Non-monetary (in-kind) donations provide critical relief to our families—supplying essential food, clothing, transportation, and special moments of joy like back-to-school supplies and birthday celebrations.

By donating items directly, you help us maximize our funding toward vital everyday living expenses, medical bills, and specialized family support services.

Key Guidelines at a Glance

To protect the health, safety, and dignity of the critically ill children and families we serve, Friends of Karen maintains specific guidelines for in-kind gifts:

• 100% New Items Only: Because many of our children have severely compromised immune systems, we can only accept brand-new, unused items in original packaging with tags attached. We cannot accept used clothing, toys, books, or medical equipment.
• Gift Card Denomination Preference: While gifts of any size are deeply appreciated, we kindly request gift cards of $25 or more. Managing multiple small-value cards at checkout can be overwhelming for a parent caring for a sick child. Higher denominations allow parents to shop with ease and dignity.
• Wish List Alignment: To meet immediate family needs, we only accept items on our official wish list. Please review our current needs before coordinating a physical donation.
• Safety & Quality: All items must meet current safety standards and cannot be expired, recalled, or damaged.
• Drop-Off Logistics: Due to limited storage space, please coordinate large physical deliveries with our team in advance (Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM):
  • North Salem Office: Virgil Dantes | virgildantes@friendsofkaren.org | (914) 617-4054
  • Long Island Office: Lexi Latino | lexilatino@friendsofkaren.org | (631) 473-1768 ext. 903
• Online Orders: When ordering online, please ship items directly to our North Salem Office at Friends of Karen, Attn: In-Kind Donations, 118 Titicus Road, North Salem, NY 10560
• Tax Receipts: Friends of Karen provides a written tax acknowledgment for all accepted in-kind gifts. Per IRS regulations, donors determine the fair market value of donated items for tax purposes