Samaritan House is a long-running San Mateo County, California anti-poverty 501(c)(3) that runs an annual Halloween Costume Drive each October. It collects new and nearly-new costumes for children ages three to sixteen, including larger sizes, and gives them free to the low-income families it serves. Donations are dropped off at the organization's Kids Closet or its offices at 4031 Pacific Boulevard in San Mateo. The costume drive is one of many children's programs the organization operates. Visit samaritanhousesanmateo.org for drop-off details and current-year dates.
Samaritan House runs a seasonal collection, typically Oct. Seasonal programs usually stop accepting donations once they have distributed for the year, so items that arrive outside that window are often turned away or held until the next cycle. Confirm this year's dates before you drop off or ship.
No. Samaritan House collects drop-off and serves San Mateo County, CA. If you are outside that area, look for a program closer to you, or use one of the 7 programs in this directory that accept mail-in donations from anywhere.
Samaritan House is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations to registered charities are generally tax deductible if you itemize, and the organization can issue a receipt. Ask them directly for their EIN and a written acknowledgement if you plan to claim the donation on your taxes.
This listing is marked Verified Org and was last reviewed on June 29, 2026. That means we confirmed the organization exists and operates, using public records and its own published material, but we have not re-confirmed this season with them directly. Programs change hours, addresses, and intake windows without notice, so check their own site before you travel or ship.