on accepted items

  • The list of items we accept for community redistribution can be found here. The list changes over time, and if we have surplus of any particular type of item, we may pause collection of that item temporarily - you can always find the items we are accepting on the spreadsheet. Please check it before each visit to make sure we are able to take your items!

  • No, we don’t. We have such a small space, that we can’t accommodate any items that are not intended for redistribution.

  • Cool! Drop us an email at theparlor@trashpeople.org to check in advance if we want it, OR bag it separately and ask a team member when you drop off your other items. We love getting things reused, so if we say no, it’s because we don’t have the space or the systems set up to redistribute it.

  • We highly recommend Chicago Environmentalist’s website for a wide range of incredible resources, including a long list of reuse and recycling destinations in the city.

  • We’re so happy you asked! You have the ability to make us really happy, or a little bit sad, depending on what and how you pack.

    1. Ensure ALL items are clean and in good, reusable condition. That means no dust, all items are washed and don’t have stains, shoes aren’t carrying mud. A real human has to touch your items to sort them, and then we want to give them straight out to the community. Dirty, stained items are more unhelpful than they are helpful. Please don’t bring them.

    2. Labelling any items that are unusual (especially baby supplies!), and putting sizes on bedsheets is SO HELPFUL.

    3. Organizing your items by type, and separating things that aren’t on our list to check on arrival is also very helpful.

    We really, really don’t want your junk. We know it’s hard to find a good location for items that are in bad condition, and we empathize with the dilemma. When people bring us items that aren’t on our list without approval, or are in bad condition, you create more work for us and take time away from doing stuff that is impactful. We appreciate you being thoughtful when you are considering what to bring. If you aren’t sure, feel free to ask!

on dropping off items

  • The Parlor is located in Logan Square at Wrightwood & Kimball. In order to avoid people dumping items outside our building, our address is only shared at the point of booking a drop off.

    We kindly ask you do not share our address with friends or online, please share our drop off link instead.

  • The Parlor is accessed via 8 steps, but we do have access to an elevator on the other side of the building which is accessed with a key. With notice, we can plan to meet you there - give us a heads up if you can at theparlor@trashpeople.org so we can have someone on hand to help.

  • The Parlor is primarily led by volunteers and we do not have consistent weekly open hours. We don’t want you to have a wasted trip, so reserving a drop-off slot ensures someone will be there on your arrival. Having bookable slots also reduces donation dumping and helps us track and prepare for donation volumes.

  • If you need to change or cancel your drop off, please find your original appointment confirmation email - in there you’ll find a link to cancel or reschedule. We appreciate the heads up - thanks!

  • If you’ve got additional items to bring, as long as they are also on our list, no need to send a message! If they aren’t on our list, pack them separately and check with us on arrival if we can take them.

  • A whole host of places! We redistribute items to where they are needed most. We do not guarantee any specific purpose/location for items - but as long as they are on our list, we’ll ensure they get reused. Check out our Partner page for more.

    In very rare cases, luxury or high value items may be used for fundraising - this accounts for less than 0.001% of the items that come through our doors.

  • We currently don’t have capacity to pick up items, but we hope to be able to expand our services in future.

on volunteering

  • The Parlor is powered by incredible volunteers like you! We host weekly volunteer sessions of around 5-6 people - usually Wednesday evening, Thursday evening, Friday lunchtime and Saturday morning. To start volunteering, check out our Volunteering page. We can’t wait to have you join us.

  • Simply complete our volunteer sign up form, then find a volunteer shift that works for you here! Please note, while we welcome one-time volunteers, this is a great volunteering opportunity for people interested in a recurring volunteer role - there’s lots to learn and you’ll able to be increasingly impactful over time!

  • Teens 13+ are welcome with an adult, otherwise our opportunities are not suitable for kids. We hope to be able to expand our opportunities in future!

on OUR PARTNERS & where your items go

  • We work with a wide network of Chicago-based non-profits and mutual aid groups that serve various communities around the city - almost all of the items that come through our doors go straight back out through them! Check out our list of partners here.

    Occasionally we do direct distribution, e.g. clothing pop-ups and our teacher resource fair, but usually items are redistributed via a partner.

    In very rare scenarios, luxury/high-value items may be used for fundraising; this accounts for less than 0.0001% of the items that we receive.

  • We work with any non-profits, mutual aid groups or community organizers that need items in a medium/high quantity - e.g. multiple bags of items rather than 1 or 2 specific things. We love to work with organizations that need items weekly/biweekly/monthly, but are open to one off support as well! For more information & to contact us about a partnership, check out our partners page.

    Please note we are not a free store open to the public and are not set up for shopping by individuals.