The other word for donations?

The most frequently used word is contributions.

I suspect you mean "hand-me-downs".  Second-hand items.  Like clothes from goodwill or the church.

I grew up in a big family, and was 6 of 7 kids, so had a lot of hand-me-downs, and not from Goodwill.  Literal hand-me-downs from my older siblings.  They outgrew them and I grew into them, they handed the things down to me.  At least, as long as they weren't all worn out.

contribution, alms

Offering, gratuity, largesse.

@Bruce: you re probably right with hand-out. "Handy-dams" must be hand-me-downs

I can't think of anything else, that could be.

"Handout"? There's also "contribution" but that doesn't sound anything like "handy dams."

Or are you thinking of "hand-me-downs"? Those are usually clothes that were worn and outgrown by an older sibling who "hands them down" to a smaller brother or sister.