This business is a scam. They legally steal your items and do not even care enough to provide a receipt for the "donation". I'd like to rate them zero, but that's not an option. read more

Twice I placed many boxes and many large plastic bags of my donation on my front porch. It was hard work. I worked for two weeks carefully sorting and packing nice clothing, shoes, nice kitchen supplies and small appliances. Both times they never showed up. After I reached them by phone via their byzantine telephone answering service they used the same excuse each time that they didn't know to call me because dispatch is not setup to contact them so they don't know to contact the donor. It's easy to recognize that they don't care how inconvenient they make it for the donor. read more

They worked well for decades. Recently they failed to pick up our stuff twice in a row. Never again will I deal with them. They obviously don't need my business since they have too many other pickups to ever reach my house. Only gave one star because they don't post review with no stars. read more

I wouldn't donate even a door handle to this company. As a previous employee of this foundation, know that the nice vehicles RARELY make it to the auction/customer. And the deductions are complete without a single appraisal or inspection and will receive a $4999 deduction for something worth scrap! because the people in charge allow this inappropriate process and behavior continue, this program isnt as successful as it could be that's for sure! read more

I have been a life member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart for over 40 years by virtue of having received three Purple Heart awards from my year as an infantry officer in Vietnam. I am very frustrated at the ineffectiveness and inefficiencies of the Purple Heart Service Foundation. Charity Monitor rates this charity with an F rating. I write to the Order annually to tell them that I am not going to contribute funds to a charity that only provides less than 30% of contributions to their activities. How shameful! They contract out to a fund raising organization, last year spending over $15,000,000 of the more than $20,000,000 received. And this is the case every year. Overall management and supervision by the Order is totally lacking. Those who are tasked to manage the Service Foundation have been lax and incompetent. This must change! There is a large population of combat wounded veterans in the USA and many more people who sincerely support taking care of our wounded veteran families, relatives and friends that could be brought in to solicit funding along with telling the story of the Purple Heart and our wounded veteran. National, you need to get directly involved in turning around the performance of this disgraceful Service Foundation. And you should be regularly publicizing your efforts and those of the Foundation. There are many other worthy and far more efficient non-profit organizations, like the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion that put more than 90% of their donations to work helping veterans and their families. You can do it, if you have the will and intestinal fortitude to become involved in turning the Foundation around. No more money until you do. My funds currently go to many more efficient veteran organizations and will continue to receive my support in lieu of the Service Foundation. Shame on you and your slate of officers. read more

I called your company and was scheduled pickup for 9/9/2023 with the instructions of have your donation sitting in front of my door at 7:30am for pickup. It'll 8:08pm and no pickup. You sent a text verifying the above instructions and your driver fell to comply! I will never use this service again. Sorry employees!! read more

This happened in 2011....I was just shredding tax stuff & saw the notice about the donation. It brought back bitter memories of my car donation. I had always meant to put a review on yelp, but life just gets away from you. I would never donate a car to this agency. Their assessment of the car I donated was far below the fair donation price. If I had known they would only give me a $500.00 donation credit for my taxes, I would have sold the car for 5 times the price myself & donated the money to a charity of my choice. I can't imagine that their practices have changed. read more

I received a donation solicitation from this organization, and decided to look into them further. As a military family, I am always interested in organizations that are doing great things for our veterans. However, after looking at their financials, I will not donate to this organization. Their financials are able to claim a 3.5% admin - which is super low! HOWEVER, they spend nearly all of their money on fundraising expenses - nearly 70%! Of the $33.3 million that they spent in 2017, only $9 million went to their program costs. Meaning only 27% of the money they spend actually goes towards program costs. It's frankly disgusting that they can get away with this considering how much money they take in each year. There are so many great veteran service organizations that have integrity with their money, donate to one of those instead. read more

I've been giving to the PHSF for years, but now I'm looking for another charity. We scheduled a pick up for today, but they never came. Called, and the operator told me my street was labeled as a "dangerous hazard", with no room to turn around. Excuse me? The street is two and a half lanes wide, and the trash collectors have no trouble navigating. I told her that was a bold face lie, and I'll be looking into other charities. I was disappointed in learning that a small amount of the fundraising goes to the people they promise to help. Less than 20%. read more

If you're thinking of donating to this charity, there are better ones in our area that won't waste your time. I scheduled a pick-up from this charity five days ago. That pickup never occurred, and the items that I intended to donate (about $3k worth of stuff) sat outside. I have called repeatedly with detailed instructions on where to find my donations, but to no avail. The people answering the phone are generally apathetic and unhelpful. I called yesterday - for the fourth time - to discover that they're voice mailbox was full, so I couldn't even leave a message. As the days have passed and my homeowner's association have threatened to fine me for all of the items I have tarped in front of my house, I managed to arrange for a different charity (VVA) to come and pick up my donations. They, at least, show up. This seems to be an amateurishly run organization that takes the goodwill of donators for granted, which is truly a shame, given what the organization is supposed to stand for. read more

The day after writing this review someone from Purple heart called to follow up on the donation. I explained how the day before no one could find my information. She really didn't seem concerned at all even after I cancelled the donation. Trying to do a good thing failed on their part. read more

OK I'm done with Purple Heart now as well. They've sometimes been undependable about picking up scheduled donations. In the past 2 weeks they have simply failed to show up the two times I scheduled a donation pickup! Is anyone actually managing this organization? SHAME! read more

Had all donations ready by 7am as requested. The truck did not show up until around 3pm and they only took the electronics, they checked every box and bag we had out there and only took the stuff they wanted leaving a big mess behind. I will never donate to this charity again. read more

I had an unusual experience w. Purple Heart: I put about $1,500 worth of stuff at the curb by 7 AM, as they instructed -- but as of 5:30 PM, they hadn't picked it up. Rain was in the forecast, and so I called them to complain. I was treated very well, and -- like magic -- the next thing I knew, the stuff had been picked up. They've got problems with pickups, as the other reviews indicate -- but I'm convinced they're determined to fix the problems. I'm sure it's a big operation, with a lot of pickups. The veterans deserve our support, and I have to say I was very impressed at their responsiveness. So, if you don't get a pickup as scheduled, I recommend calling them. read more

I always donate to Purple Heart vs. Goodwill or any of the other donation centers. I have always had a good experience. They pick up on the scheduled day. If there is something that they didn't take, it was because I didn't read the "We don't take these items" correctly! I will continue to donate to Purple Heart in honor of my grandfather and the military. read more

I am a purple heart recipient. I asked them about applying for their scholarship. The said I must join so I paid $50 I didn't have and became a member. Then I apply. Quickly they determine they have somehow lost my packet and I am not able to fix it. I am filing a civil suit and contacting the BBB. This is an outrage. read more

Scheduled a pick-up and they never showed up. We are moving, and we worked very hard to get together clothing, shoes that we no longer use, cleaned and folded and boxed it. Got together books and other household knick knacks, and boxed them up nicely. Everything was out by 7:00 am as instructed. No Purple Heart truck arrived. We called the office and were told nothing they can do. We were told next pick-up date will be in a week. Rained hard and will rain all weekend. Everything ruined. Will not be using Purple Heart ever again. Very disappointed that my donation is now trash. read more

Very very disappointed my appointment was for 9am. I get a call at 830am saying the driver is not coming, because they cannot fit into your complex. I asked are they on the road, I guide them in, it is 3 complexes next to each other maybe they are at the wrong complex. No they are not in your area, they LOOKED IT UP ONLINE. I asked are they will to try and come in the complex, Uhaul, Penske, the trash truck, UPS, and other companies come in the complex all the time. Unless you are driving a semi-truck or 18 wheeler. You can fit. All my furniture was outside and ready to go at 815am, all they had to do was pull in load up and go. The drivers never came to get a visual of the area. They looked it up online and made a poor judgment call. I am a veteran looking to support other veterans. All that I ask is that you TRY, do not assume something cannot be done without TRYING. ARMY STRONG read more

This organization continues to upset my mother. After my father's death, she felt compelled to donate his items to veterans, since my father was a Vietnam Vet. They continually set up pickups for her of which they repeatedly no show with no call. My mother will call and they tell her the items were not there. She carries items down her steep driveway night before and then has to carry them back up the next night after they do not pick them up. This is an elderly woman who does not walk well! Makes me wonder if Veterans ever get to benefit from donations. Despicable organization! read more

I also will never donate again. Spent hours going through nice things and carrying all outside just for driver to take 2 bags and leave the rest. Left bags of Hollister and Justice clothing, many still with tags, a new xmas tree, a very expensive bike in great condition and many other like new expensive items. We now have to carry it all back in. Driver lied and said items were too heavy. I'm a small female and carried this stuff up my basement steps and outside. Your driver can't lift it? read more

I got a letter stating that my vehicle sold for more than $500 but I had to give them my social security number for the IRS. I called the hotline and gave them the number, but they never forwarded the 1099. So I sent them a fax with all the data. No IRS form for my taxes. I hope they put the profits to good use because it is the last time I'll donate anything to them if they cannot do a better job at following up for tax purposes. read more

I donated my 2006 Mercury Montego to the organization this past year. I was planning on using the tax right-off, but never received my tax receipt. They sure had no problem picking up the vehicle, but can't take the time to process the paperwork. People will stop donating if you don't do what you say you will! read more

We donated to Purple Heart for years. They would pick up right out front of our house every time we scheduled a pick up..... except for recently. Two times we scheduled and our stuff didn't get picked up. The first time the drivers said there was no parking so they kept going. It doesn't take long to slap on your blinkers and load a few boxes. The pizza guy does it all the time just fine. And the second time it was a special scheduled pick up because of the first time was not picked up. We had it outside 645am til 630 pm and no one showed up. We have one last time scheduled. If it gets picked up I will change my review but if not I will donate to a place that actually cares about the foundation they represent. read more

I am sad to report I have once again been stood up by purple heart. I would rather donate to purple heart over any other organization and it is no trouble for me at all to drive goods to their locations. But to carefully package items dragging them out one by one in order for the drivers to not miss them back and forth and back and forth again, early mornings and after work at nights make you seem to wonder what is going on? I am instructed to place items where drivers can see from the parking lot, Very well.. I did. Driver however just did not go far enough down my street and I happen to be the last house, so he left and missed me.. I rescheduled, dragging everything back outside and this time right out on the curb of parking lot, just to be right there. I even called PH twice to follow up and make sure I am still on route since my HOA does not allow things being laid out after hours. Well, I waited all evening.. No pick up.. And now I needed help dragging all bags and boxes back into the house as I am donating a lot! Mind you these are not at all junk I am trying to rid of... but the time, energy put into this... it's disheartening when you are trying to help and do good! I have cancelled my future pick ups because I feel as if they are pulling my leg. And now finding these reviews I guess I am not the only one. It is sad indeed! I am sad and I am sorry. read more

I wish I had checked with YELP before I donated a good vehicle to these cats. My situation: Called the 888-414-4483 number. Arranged pick-up of a vehicle in Hawaii. They did get the vehicle, however, I never received my IRS Tax Deduction Receipt as they promised. I am disappointed. I am wondering how many other people have been made the promise they would get an initial receipt and a follow-on receipt for what the car actually sold as for their tax deduction. It saddens me when an organization, a (501 (c)(3) not for profit, fails to deliver on their word. Especially, in light that they are using the banner "Helping our combat wounded warriors & their families" The Purple Heart Foundation should assess their various locations to ensure respective locations are doing what they advertise. read more

Google: William Ellison and Value Village/World. All of your Purple Heart donations are sold to Value Village/World and purchased for pennies by the pound/truck whatever, and sold for profit. Mr. Ellison's thrift shops are the most successful in the US (it was, and could still be world). They have an F rating as far as charities are concerned. This is NOT the method to use to aid veterans. It is a disgraceful misrepresentation of a military honor. read more

Don't waste your time. They will bombard you will emails and postcards but if you ever schedule a pick-up they probably won't show. I just got home to find, for the fourth time, a big pile of soaking wet stuff at the end of my driveway. Most of it's probably ruined given that we have a torrential downpour today. Despite the fact that they pulled this stunt on me three times in the past, I thought my new address might cure the problem. No luck!! SOS, as they say. At least this time I won't go thru the farce of dragging it in, calling them, putting it out, several times, only to find it in the same spot each time I return home. Save your time and give to a real organization. read more

I called Purple Heart to schedule a pickup of 2 foot rests and a plant stand. The person I spoke to ask me that I have to have a better description of the plant stand because she did not feel it was accurate description. She didn't understand what that was. I said I did not have a better description. She then said they would pick up the foot stands and not the plant stand. I said that they were refusing to pick up the plant stand. She then said that I was canceling it. I then got upset and she said I should call back when I calmed down. I'm taking all to goodwill and will communicate to Purple Heart to never call here to tell me that their in the neighborhood on a certain date. Worst example of customer relations that I have experienced read more

I donated my cherished 1966 VW Beetle just before Thanksgiving. I called in January. They said it sold for more than $500 and the tax receipt was being processed. I have since called 4 more times, each time being told the receipt was in the mail. Not only is this holding up my tax return, but it makes me feel like me & my donation are insignificant. Never again!! read more

I'll just say ditto to everyone else's 1 star reviews. I would love to donate to Purple Heart. It is a little bit of trouble for me to drive to the nearest donation center. I thought the pickup would be a nice way to go. They didn't come on my scheduled day. I called to reschedule and they told me that they won't come down driveways. I'm not sure why as I know several other people with long driveways and the drivers always go up them to pick up their stuff. They ask you where you are leaving your stuff and near garage, and on front porch are options....now they are telling me everything needs to be down by the road. I have a 500ft driveway, which is completely exposed to the elements. PH you are asking me to lug all of the things I'm donating down my driveway and leave it there on a Friday (my trash day)...in the snow (our current weather), hope that no animals get into anything (we live next to a state park), hope the trash people don't think it's trash and throw it all into a landfill, and leave my cardboard boxes with my stuff in them in the snow to get wet and fall apart.......Because, and I quote, "The drivers aren't supposed to come down any driveways." 1. Dear PH, Why is it then an option on the PH website to be able to leave your things near your garage or on your front porch if they aren't actually going to pull in or pull in far enough to see the stuff and come get it. 2. Dear PH, The only people without driveways are people who live in apartments, some townhomes, and condos. So you're ruling out 80% of everyone else who would like to donate to you. 3. Dear PH, Your rules seem to not actually apply. Drivers are picking and choosing what driveways to go up and which ones they'd just rather not bother with, because well...it's probably a tiny bit more effort for them. And I know you like to say that they can't for insurance reasons, but well...let's be honest, they're doing it anyway. 4. Dear PH, Be consistent. You're kind of like the parent in this situation. If you're going to make rules, don't make them arbitrarily. Don't sit there and tell me that your driver can't come and get my donation because they don't come up driveways, when my friend 2 streets over with a driveway long enough that you can't see what she's got set out by her garage get's her stuff picked up...from outside her garage. If you're going to "enforce" the rules for your donors....be sure to do the same for your drivers. Or better yet...just come up my driveway and grab it all! I'm trying to give you some good stuff and you're making it very difficult. 5. Dear PH, You're only ultimately hurting the people you say you're trying to help. You should probably cut your hair and take the walk of shame through the city. Shame! Shame! Shame! 6. Dear PH, this relationship is not going to work out....It's not me, it's you. Best of luck in your future relationships. I hope you remember that they're a two way street and you need to hold up your end of the bargain if you want lasting ones. read more

One star is too much. I got everything out on the grass, ready for them by 7 am. They agreed to call 30 min before to let me know they were coming and I stayed at home the WHOLE DAY waiting for them. Called at 2 pm and they said they were still coming. Was going to rain so at 4 pm I moved all of it off the grass to the front porch for it to stay out of the rain. Called at 5 pm as it was pouring and they said they came by but there weren't labels SO THEY DROVE AWAY and won't come back! NOOOO! I know this is a public service but competency and responsibility should still be a factor. read more

I will never donate to purple heart again! Nor will I recommend them! Being disabled and having tons of clothes to go through and bag up was extremely painful on my body! I went through all of that and my son put all the bags on the porch just to have ONE BAG REMOVED out of 10 bags of clothes! Baby clothes, men and women clothing, children clothing, winter coats, and some with tags still on! I call back and they come out 2 days later after pulling the bags back in the house, just to have to pull them back on the porch, and they took all but 2 bags! Now if they took half of the bags the first go around, they could have taken the rest the second go around if it was too many bags to donate to people in need! So I call about the 2 bags that's left and this is now maybe my 5th call to them and MICHELLE gets a bit snippy with me! I'm donating to those who are in need and not to her so why do I detect a bit of snippy? Maybe if you had more than one person picking up items you wouldn't get reviews like this! We're only trying to help one another and if your company can't handle picking up donations then maybe you shouldn't!!!!! You act like I'm wasting your time! Oh, and I was looking at him through my ring doorbell and I saw him when he went to pick up the last 2 bags and then put them back down and made a gesture with his hands like saying forget those last 2 bags! You don't know what could have been in those last 2 bags that really would have helped out a family or 2 or 3! Extremely pathetic!!!! read more

I stopped donating to Purple Heart and also Amvets after finding out they sell what you donate to for-profit thrift stores. Very disappointing as I thought what I had been donating in the past was going to veterans. Sadly, not the case. read more

Highly UNETHICAL!! I have never heard of Purple Heart but that is neither here nor there. Monday, Dec 3, 2012, I scheduled a pickup with "Samaritan House". They informed me they would pick up my things Dec 5, 2012 and to put the bag on my porch before 8am. I followed the instructions. Upon coming home, I discovered some company by the name of Purple Heart picked up my donation that was in a Samaritan House bag. I was highly upset as I had gender specific clothing for the all women charity. After speaking with a Purple Heart representative, they justified their pick up by stating Samaritan House always takes their bags knowing it does not belong to them. I am very upset as Purple Heart, an organization I never heard of and an organization I never called to pick up my things should have never taken the donation. It may be not be against the law but it is immoral and unethical, something a charity organization should not be. read more

terrible, unreliable, they lie to you, don't show up..more than twice give your donation to salvation army, they actually care read more

I feel obligated to include my own review of the Foundation for a couple of reasons: First, I have some first-hand experience with them and second, there are a few common misconceptions that need to be cleared up. It's not clear to many people how donated items are managed by the Foundation. They are not "putting shirts on the backs of veterans" that the public donates. The "thrift operations" as they are known are run by third-parties that sell the donated household goods and clothing at their retail stores. That is common practice for these sorts of charities. The thrift operators pay the charity by the pallet, based on the dimensions of the pallet. Whether its designer clothing or a pile of rags, the charity receives the same amount of money. It would simply be too expensive to operate all the stores themselves and/or price each donated item, as they number in the tens of thousands, from socks, to coffee makers, old, LPs, etc. -- you get the picture. For donated cars, those too must be converted to cash after the third-party towing and auction companies deduct their fees. It used to be that a donor could take the full blue book value of the car for tax purposes; but the laws changed. Now the "gavel price" at auction is what you can deduct, and most cars that re donated are often "junkers" that are worth only around $250. Once the donation laws changed, charitable car donations plummeted. That was over 10 years ago, yet the Foundation clings to thrift and car donations for the bulk of their revenue. They are largely outdated fundraising models that rely on third parties for solicitation, pick-up and cash conversion, which also means the Foundation collects only a small percentage of each dollar of the donation value. However, the real problem that has plagued the Foundation for years is not only HOW they raise money, it's how they run the Foundation itself and manage their financial support of the MOPH USA, the membership side of the Purple Heart Organization. The same individuals have been on the board and in leadership positions for decades. There are no term limits. Many have become entrenched, dysfunctional leaders who are openly hostile to changing the status quo. They have been embroiled in multiple controversies, lawsuits and conflicts of interest, as chronicled here: https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/07/03/why-the-future-of-the-purple-heart-foundation-is-at-risk/ As you will see from the article, their relationship with their sister organization, MOPH USA, is in peril -- and has been years. So while I can cut the Foundation a break, based on the inherent costs of converting donated clothing, household items and cars -- I understand how all that works. What is unforgivable is the gross mismanagement that has plagued the organization for many years, and appears will never change, until they eventually run through their remaining reserves and succumb to their own self-created insolvency. For that, they deserve their measly one-star ratings. read more

Purple Heart deserves zero, nil, no stars. When I called them to donate they told me they then sold the donated items. What they did not disclose is that they sell the donations for $25 per truck load. I donated wine glasses that cost me $120 each and many such items. I had carefully wrapped all the glass items in bubble wrap. The people who picked up my 42 boxes THREW them into the truck. When I cautioned them about the breakable a they told me what they did w/ everything. This company is very misleading. DO NOT DONATE TO PURPLE HEART. read more

I just got off the phone with a representative of the company. I am sorry I donated to this company! Two months ago, I donated my car to this company after doing, what I thought was, some research. They were extremely eager to take my car at the time, and they said they would send a letter stating the selling price that I could use to file with my taxes. Several weeks after donating my car I received the letter stating that my car sold for more than $500, but I would need to call them and provide my Social Security number to allow me to receive full credit for the selling price. I called the phone number on the undated letter. I asked for him to verbally disclose how much my car sold for so I could claim it on my taxes...he said I need to give him my Social Security number before he could do so. I then asked him for the physical address of the Purple Heart Services, Inc., as there is only a P.O. Box listed on the letter. He said all of the correspondence necessary for the IRS is the P.O. Box. I said that I would still like the physical address so I can do research before providing my SS#. He would not give my a physical address of the company. I then started searching their name on the web again. Not too much information out there. They have an appealing website, it looks quite professional...??? I got off the phone and went on the the Better Business Bureau site to see what I could find. I can not find anything close to their business name(s) listed. I am not sure how to go any further with this, but I feel as though there is something not right about this company. I definitely question if there are any funds whatsoever going to charity. I should have looked on Yelp BEFORE I donated. Lesson learned. read more

we ended up taking everything to the clock tower thrift shop in centreville and they were glad to have it. they accept donations every day from 9-5. good to know. read more

Agree with all other reviews. Do not donate a car. They keep no record of the price they auction it off at. In fact a car my client donated had a trade in value of 2k and since the Purple Heart doesn't keep track my client was only able to take $500. Sell your stuff on ebay or craigslist and then give them the cash if thats who you want to donate to. read more