Remember that tiny stroller that carried your baby through countless park visits, grocery store runs, and afternoon walks?
Now it’s sitting in your garage, collecting dust. But somewhere out there, a family hopes to find an affordable stroller for their little one.
As a parent who’s donated three strollers (and helped dozens of friends do the same), I know exactly how to turn your unused stroller into a life-changing gift for another family.
This guide combines everything I’ve learned about making donation easy and meaningful.
You’ll discover trusted organizations that will handle your stroller with care, simple steps to prepare it for its new home, and ways to ensure it reaches a family in need.
Let’s find the perfect new home for that stroller that served your family well.
Local Charities and Shelters
Local organizations often provide the most direct path for your stroller to reach families in your community. These groups understand local needs and can quickly connect your donation with the most needy parents.
1. Homeless Shelters
Homeless shelters across the country report a constant need for strollers. A stroller is more than just baby gear for families staying in shelters.
It’s essential transportation that helps parents get to job interviews, medical appointments, and housing viewings while caring for their children.
Contact your local homeless shelter to learn about their needs and donation procedures. Many shelters prefer lightweight, foldable models that families can easily store in small spaces.
2. Women’s Shelters
Women’s shelters serve mothers and children who often arrive with only their clothes.
These shelters provide a haven and help families rebuild their lives. A donated stroller gives a mother independence and mobility as she works to create a new start.
Most women’s shelters accept donations through secure, private drop-off procedures to protect their residents’ safety.
Call your local shelter to learn about their donation protocols and current needs.
3. Religious Organizations
Religious organizations frequently run community outreach programs that connect baby gear with local families.
Churches, synagogues, and mosques often maintain lists of needed items for the families they serve. Many operate donation closets or partner with local aid organizations.
These programs typically offer flexible drop-off times and may arrange pickup for larger items.
Hospitals and Pediatric Clinics
Medical facilities often serve as crucial connection points for families needing essential baby equipment.
4. Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs)
Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) work closely with families during challenging times. Many NICU parents spend weeks or months traveling back and forth to the hospital, often while caring for other children at home.
Some hospitals maintain programs to provide strollers to NICU families, particularly those facing financial strain.
These programs help parents safely transport their babies home and to follow-up medical appointments.
Contact your local hospital’s NICU social work department to learn if they accept stroller donations or if they can connect you with partner organizations.
5. Community Health Clinics
Community health clinics serve as front-line healthcare providers for many low-income families. These clinics often know which families need support beyond medical care.
Many maintain resource centers or partner with local organizations to provide baby equipment to their patients.
A donated stroller can help parents transport their children to medical appointments and developmental checkups.
Some clinics also collaborate with prenatal programs, assisting expectant mothers in preparing for their babies’ arrival.
Online Platforms and Social Media
Digital platforms provide convenient ways to connect directly with local families who need strollers.
6. Freecycle
Freecycle connects people who want to give and receive free items within their communities. To list your stroller on Freecycle, join your local group and create a detailed post that includes:
- The stroller’s brand and model
- Age and condition
7. Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace offers a simple way to list your stroller for donation. To ensure a safe and successful donation:
- Take clear photos of the stroller from multiple angles
- Write a complete description of the item’s condition
8. Craigslist
Craigslist reaches many local families who are seeking baby equipment. When creating a Craigslist donation post:
- Select the “free” section in your local area
- Include detailed photos showing all features
National Organizations Accepting Stroller Donations
Several established national organizations make it simple to donate your stroller. Each offers different programs and processes to help your donation reach needy families.
9. Goodwill
Goodwill accepts stroller donations at their local donation centers nationwide.
Your contribution supports their mission of providing job training and employment services to people facing barriers to work.
To donate, bring your stroller to any Goodwill location during business hours. Staff will inspect it and provide you with a tax receipt.
Ensure your stroller is clean, has working brakes, and includes all essential parts.
10. Salvation Army
The Salvation Army operates donation centers nationwide, accepting strollers as part of their family support programs.
They distribute items directly to needy families or sell them in their stores to fund community services.
You can drop off your stroller at any Salvation Army location or schedule a free pickup in many areas. The organization asks that donated strollers meet current safety standards and have no recalls.
11. Baby2Baby
Baby2Baby provides children living in poverty with essential items they need.
The organization works with a network of community partners to get donations directly to families.
They accept new, gently used strollers under five years old and meet all safety requirements.
While Baby2Baby’s main warehouse is in Los Angeles, they partner with similar organizations nationwide. Contact them to find your area’s nearest donation point or partner organization.
Benefits of Donating Strollers
Environmental Impact
When you donate your stroller, you create positive change in multiple ways.
First, you make an important environmental choice. Each stroller kept out of landfills reduces waste and conserves resources.
By extending the life of existing strollers through donation, you help decrease the demand for new production, which cuts down on manufacturing emissions and packaging waste.
Community Support
Your donation directly strengthens your community. Many families face tough financial choices, and the cost of a new stroller can strain limited budgets.
A donated stroller allows parents to transport their little ones to doctor appointments, grocery stores, and parks.
This basic mobility tool helps families fully participate in daily life and access essential services.
Personal Satisfaction
Beyond the practical impact, giving your stroller to a needy family creates a meaningful connection. Your donation will help another parent care for their child.
Many donors find deep satisfaction in passing along a well-loved item that brought joy to their family.
This simple act of giving transforms an unused item into a valuable resource that helps another family thrive.
Key Considerations Before Donating
Before you donate your stroller, please take a few important steps to ensure it will serve another family well and meet the requirements of receiving organizations.
Start with a thorough inspection of your stroller’s condition. Check that:
- All wheels turn smoothly and lock properly
- The brakes work effectively
Safety standards for strollers change periodically, so verify your stroller meets current requirements:
- Look up the model number on the manufacturer’s website
- Check for any recalls through the Consumer Product Safety Commission
Wrapping it Up!
Your stroller can make a meaningful difference in another family’s life, and now you have multiple opportunities to make that connection.
From national organizations like Goodwill and the Salvation Army to local shelters and medical facilities, each option serves families with different needs and circumstances.
Online platforms provide direct ways to help parents in your community while ensuring your donation meets safety standards to help protect the next young passenger.
The most effective donation is one that matches your comfort level and schedule. Consider which method works best for you.
Take the first step today. Clean your stroller, check its safety features, and contact your organization.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Get Rid of A Baby Stroller?
You can sell it through local marketplace apps, donate to charities if it’s in good condition, or list it for free on community groups.
When Can You Get Rid of Strollers?
You can responsibly dispose of your stroller when your child has outgrown it (typically around age 3-4) or if it shows significant wear and tear that affects its safety and functionality.
What Won’t Goodwill Take?
Goodwill doesn’t accept broken items, heavily soiled, recalled, or missing essential parts, or certain items like car seats past their expiration date, used cribs, and mattresses.
Where Can You Donate Used Baby Equipment?
Local women’s shelters, family resource centers, and organizations like Baby2Baby accept gently used baby equipment.
