Churches That Help With Appliances: Who to Ask and How to Ask

How churches that help with appliances work

Very few churches keep a room full of washers and refrigerators. Large appliances are heavy, need delivery and hookup, and take up storage space. So church help for appliances usually works in one of four ways:

• A voucher you take to a charity thrift store to choose a donated item.
• A direct payment from a benevolence fund to an appliance store, a used appliance dealer, or a repair technician.
• A match between you and a church member who is giving away a working appliance.
• A referral to a furniture bank or another charity that stocks household goods.

Churches tend to say yes most often when the appliance is tied to health or safety: a refrigerator for a family with young children or someone who keeps insulin cold, a stove when there is no other way to cook, or a washer for a household with a disabled member. A dryer, a second freezer, or a newer model of something that still works are much harder asks.

Government and utility programs can also replace some appliances, especially heating equipment and efficient electric appliances. Our guide to free appliances for low-income families covers weatherization, rebates, and utility programs, so this page sticks to churches and faith-based charities.

Faith-based appliance help compared

Each group works a little differently. This table shows what to expect before you call.

Salvation Army vouchers and Family Stores

Many Salvation Army corps (local community centers) run social services offices that can give a voucher for their Family Stores, which sell donated furniture, clothing, and household goods, including appliances at some stores. Whether a voucher can cover an appliance, and how much it is worth, depends entirely on the local corps and what the store has on hand. There is no national application.

Find your nearest location with the Salvation Army location finder, then call the social services line, not the store. Ask whether they give household goods vouchers and whether large appliances are included. Our guide to Salvation Army furniture vouchers explains the voucher process and what papers to bring.

The Salvation Army also helps after disasters. If a fire or flood destroyed your appliances, tell them, because disaster cases often have separate funds.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul home visits

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a Catholic lay organization that works through small parish-based groups called conferences. According to SVdP USA, it has more than 4,000 conferences and serves more than 5 million people a year. Its signature approach is the home visit: two volunteers come to your home, listen to what is going on, and decide with you how they can help.

The national ways we help page lists emergency aid for rent, utilities, food, clothing, and other needs, plus thrift stores and food pantries. Appliances are not named nationally, but in practice many conferences help with a refrigerator, stove, bed, or other basic item, either from a Vincentian thrift store or by paying a vendor. A home visit is helpful here, because the volunteers can see the broken appliance for themselves.

To reach a conference, call the Catholic parish nearest you and ask whether it has a St. Vincent de Paul group, or search for your city's SVdP council. You do not need to be Catholic.

Catholic Charities case management

Catholic Charities agencies are separate nonprofits in each diocese, and services differ widely. Some run emergency assistance programs that can include household goods, some partner with furniture banks, and many focus on case management: a staff member looks at your whole situation and connects you with the right help. Use the Catholic Charities find help page to locate your local agency.

When you call, ask for emergency assistance intake and explain the appliance problem in one or two sentences. If they cannot pay for an appliance, ask whether they know a parish fund or furniture bank that can. Like the other groups here, Catholic Charities serves people of any faith.

Local church benevolence funds

A benevolence fund is money a congregation sets aside, usually from offerings, to help people in a crisis. It is controlled by the pastor, a deacon board, or a small committee. A few points about how these funds usually work:

• Members often come first. Some churches help only members; many also help neighbors, especially if the request is small.
• Payments go to the vendor. Expect the church to pay the store or repair shop directly instead of giving you cash.
• Amounts are modest. A fund may cover a repair bill or part of a used appliance rather than a new one.
• Money runs out. Funds are often spent by the middle of the month; calling early helps.

Larger churches are more likely to have a formal fund. In many towns, churches pool money through a ministerial alliance or a shared community ministry, which can be easier to reach than individual congregations. 211 usually knows which local groups are active. The same funds often help with utility bills; our guide to churches that help with utility bills covers that side.

Love INC and furniture banks

Love INC

Love INC (Love In the Name of Christ) is a network that lets many churches respond to needs together. It reports more than 110 locations and more than 5,500 partner churches. You call one intake line, a staff member or volunteer checks the need, and the request goes out to partner churches, where a member might donate a working appliance or a group might pay for one. Not every area has a Love INC, so check its site for a location near you.

Furniture banks

Furniture banks collect donated household goods and give them to families who are setting up a home, often after homelessness, domestic violence, or a disaster. The Furniture Bank Network directory lists 184 member furniture banks and reuse charities in the U.S. and Canada. Many are run by or partnered with churches. Most require a referral from a caseworker, shelter, or agency, so ask the charity helping you to make the referral. Some furniture banks accept appliances; others handle only furniture and small household items.

Buying low cost at Habitat ReStores

Habitat for Humanity is a Christian housing nonprofit, and its ReStores are reuse stores run by local Habitat affiliates. They sell new and gently used furniture, appliances, building materials, and home goods at a fraction of the retail price, and the money funds local Habitat homes.

ReStores are not a giveaway program, but they can be the cheapest way to get a working appliance fast, especially when a church or charity has offered to pay part of the cost. A few tips:

• Stock changes daily. Call or visit often, and ask when large donations usually arrive.
• Ask whether the appliance was tested, and whether the store offers a short return window.
• Ask about delivery. Some ReStores deliver for a fee; others expect you to haul it.
• If a church is paying, ask the ReStore whether it can take payment directly from the church.

How to ask a church for an appliance

A clear, calm request gets a faster answer. Before you call, have this ready:

• What broke and when. For example, "Our refrigerator stopped cooling on Monday."
• Why it matters. Children at home, medicine that must be kept cold, or a disability.
• A repair estimate or price quote. A written estimate shows the need is real and gives the church a number to pay.
• What you can cover. Even a small share, like the delivery fee, makes a yes more likely.
• Who else you asked. Churches often split costs, and they like to know the full picture.
• ID and proof of address. Many funds help only people in their area.

Ask for the person who handles benevolence or outreach, and be ready to leave a message. If a church cannot help, ask, "Is there another church or group you would send me to?" Pastors often know which congregations still have money that month. Be wary of anyone who asks you to pay a fee to receive a "free" appliance; real charities do not charge.

Checking a donated or used appliance

A free appliance is only a help if it is safe and works. Before you accept or install one:

• Look up the brand and model number for safety recalls on the federal recall site, SaferProducts.gov or Recalls.gov.
• Check the cord and plug for damage, and do not use extension cords with refrigerators or stoves.
• Have a licensed installer or the gas company hook up any gas stove or dryer, and make sure your home has a working carbon monoxide alarm.
• Measure the space and doorways first, so the appliance actually fits.
• Ask how old it is. A very old refrigerator can use far more electricity, which can raise your bill.

If you get help with a refrigerator or stove from a church, you may also qualify for help with the energy bill. The same agencies that run LIHEAP often know about appliance replacement through weatherization.

Your plan for this week

1. Get a repair estimate or a price for a used replacement.
2. Dial 211 and ask which churches and charities near you help with appliances right now.
3. Call the Salvation Army social services office and the nearest Catholic parish about St. Vincent de Paul.
4. Contact Catholic Charities or Love INC if they serve your area.
5. Ask two or three local churches about their benevolence fund, starting with your own if you attend one.
6. Check a Habitat ReStore for a low-cost option if a charity can pay part.
7. Write down who you called, the date, and what they said.

Related guides

• Free refrigerators for low-income families
• Free washer and dryer for low-income families
• Churches that help with rent
• Charities that help with home repairs near me

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information. Each church and charity sets its own rules, and help depends on local funds and donations. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with any church, charity, or government agency.