Other items
So many things can be reused, recycled (see below), or repurposed! Click on the categories below to find out where to donate, and in some cases where to buy, used goods in and near Indian Rocks Beach. Also consider renting beach items from IRB Chairs and Rad Rentals.
Beach Community Thrift Store
Run by volunteers and a mission of Church of the Isles, United Church of Christ, this thrift store accepts and sells clothing and household items. Donations can be dropped off during open hours.
210 25th Ave. N.
(727) 444-0339
https://churchoftheisles.org/our-thrift-store
Hours: Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Anona Thrift Shoppe
Anona, less than 1.5 miles from IRB, accepts and sells small pieces of furniture, gently used clothing, shoes and accessories, linens, towels, sheets, blankets, and decorative pillows. It also takes small household items such as kitchenware and small kitchen appliances, books, pictures, and small televisions, but no larger electronics or computers.
Proceeds are used to fund Hands of Healing medical mission trips to Guatemala.
12025 Indian Rocks Road
Harbor Crest Center, Largo (across the street from Publix)
727-666-2660
https://www.facebook.com/anonathrift/
https://www.handsofhealinginc.org/thrift-shoppe
Hours: Open every day except Tuesday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Indian Rocks Thrift Center
The Indian Rocks Thrift Center, just 2.2 miles from IRB, is a ministry of Indian Rocks Baptist Church and provides funding for ministry projects and mission trips. With over 15,000 square feet of retail space, the center carries a wide range of items. Clothing, furniture, shoes, children's toys, and many more items can be donated.
12875 Walsingham Road, Largo
727-596-8868
www.indianrocks.org/thriftcenter/
www.facebook.com/IndianRocksThriftCenter/
Donation hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 2 to 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to noon
Goodwill Industries
Goodwill Donation Center (attended)
12022 Indian Rocks Road (next to Publix)
727-450-1300, 727-523-1512
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily (so they say -- hours can be erratic on both ends)
Unfortunately, as of early 2023, Suncoast Goodwill has eliminated all outside, all-hours bins because people kept dropping off unauthorized items.
https://goodwill-suncoast.org/store_wpress/attended-donation-center-indian-rocks-road/
https://goodwill-suncoast.org/donation-locations/
The following area animal shelters and veterinarian offices (one on IRB and the others nearby) will take stained towels and blankets and sometimes more. (Nicer ones can go to Anona Thrift Shoppe, listed under "Clothing and household items").
Pinellas County Animal Services
The county operates an animal shelter and adoption center only 3 miles from Indian Rocks over the bridge in Largo. Towels are on their list of daily needs. Yes, daily! Drop off during business hours.
12450 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33774
727-582-2600
https://pinellas.gov/donate-to-animal-services/
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
SPCA Tampa Bay, Largo
The local SPCA (Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) always needs gently used towels, pillowcases, and non-fitted bed sheets. They’re a bit farther from IRB (6.5 miles), but worth the trip. Drop off during business hours.
9099 130th Avenue North, Largo, FL 33773
727-586-3591
https://spcatampabay.org/donate-items/
Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 1 to 6 p.m. and weekends noon to 6 p.m.
Fluff Animal Rescue, Seminole
The nonprofit operates a thrift store and rescue resource adoption center 6.5 miles from IRB. Blankets, sheets and bath/beach towels are needed daily. (The thrift store accepts items for resale as well.)
9400 Seminole Blvd, Seminole, FL 33772
727-258-7448
https://www.fluffanimalrescue.
Assisted drop-off during donation hours 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Unattended drop-off until 5 p.m.
Sun-Surf Animal Hospital
Towels, blankets, stuffed animals, small soft throw rugs.
Drop off during business hours.
1507 Gulf Blvd., Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785
727-595-8188
https://www.sunsurfanimalhospital.com/
Hope and Love Veterinary Hospital
Towels, blankets, stuffed animals, small soft throw rugs.
Drop off during business hours.
14308 Walsingham Rd., Largo, FL 33774
727-240-0794
https://www.hopeandlovevet.com/
Animal Hospital of Largo
Blankets, towels, sheets.
Call first to make sure they’re in need.
13902 Walsingham Rd, Largo, FL 33774
727-232-9614
www.ahlargo.com
Indian Rocks Beach Animal Hospital
Towels, blankets, stuffed animals.
Drop off during business hours.
12712 Indian Rocks Road, Largo, FL 33774
727-596-9156
www.irbanimalhospital.com
Citywide Garage Sale
Indian Rocks Beach holds two Citywide Garage Sales twice a year, and they are super popular and fun! The events typically occur in April and November. In 2023, the dates are April 29-30 and Nov. 4-5. You can verify dates in the city calendar. Residents and property owners put out merchandise for sale, mostly on Saturdays, and the streets of IRB get very crowded on Saturdays. Not much happens by Sunday, though you can get great leftovers then. For locals, it’s a great way to get rid of clutter and support reuse, while shoppers will find terrific bargains. You’ll meet neighbors, locals, and visitors!
City of Indian Rocks Beach
727-595-2517
http://www.indian-rocks-beach.com/calendar.php
IRB old photos and memorabilia
If you come across old photos or memorabilia that feature IRB place, take them to the Indian Rocks Historical Museum to see if they can use them. (Side note: I once donated a token used to get onto the old fishing pier, which was taken out by Hurricane Elena in 1985.)
Regardless, you must visit our wonderful museum, where you will learn so much about the beginnings of IRB, see some hilariously old-fashioned swimwear and can page through photo albums of every street in the city. The museum, founded in 1980, is run by volunteers interested in collecting, preserving and sharing the history of Indian Rocks (an area that originally included what is today Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores, and a part of Largo). Admission is free, but donations are always welcome.
Indian Rocks Historical Museum
203 4th Ave N. (across from the post office)
Phone: 727-593-3861
www.IRBmuseum.com
Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday
Closed July, August and September
Fishing gear
Fishing gear suitable for children can be left in the Leave-a-Toy/Take-a-Toy bins. Those are found near the beach entrance at the following IRB beach accesses: 4th, 8th, 17th, 22nd, 24th, 27th.
If you have other ideas for donating fishing gear, please let us know. Perhaps gear can go to Scout troops or other groups for children and teens. Donating should be convenient for people at IRB.
“BuyNothing” on Facebook and Freecycle
You might have heard about “BuyNothing” groups on Facebook. These are loosely formed groups of people who give stuff away, much like Freecycle, which came before it. Freecycle.org still exists and also has an app. These sites are not a very practical option for vacationers, as one must coordinate pickup and it’s often not super close by. But for property managers and owners who are willing to do a little extra coordination to curb waste, these are fantastic ways to donate items, including perishable food. The local Facebook group is called “Buy Nothing Largo/Belleair/Indian Rocks Beach, FL” and you must send a request through the page to join. OLIO, which started in the UK as a food-sharing app, has already branched out into everything sharing.
Recycling
IRB offers residential curbside recycling as well as several standalone recycling stations:
Items accepted in residential curbside bins
• Aluminum cans
• Newspapers
• Plastic bottles
Standalone recycling stations
• Kolb Park off of Bay Palm Blvd. (across from City Hall)
• Brown Park off of Bay Blvd and 2nd St.
• Near IRB Historical Museum at corner of 4th Ave. and 2nd St.
• IRB Nature Preserve, between 9th and 10th Aves., off of Gulf Blvd.
