what clothes are ok to donate

by Sigurd Greenfelder 5 min read

What Kind of Clothes Can Be Donated Almost any kind of gently-used item is accepted, including t-shirts, shoes, jackets, ties, dresses, sweaters, hats, gloves, handbags, coats, bathing suits, sleepwear and formal wear. How to Donate

A quick rule of thumb for clothing donations: If an item is in good condition (no stains, holes, or tears) and is clean, it's probably perfect for clothing donation.
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Not acceptable for clothing donation:
  • No undergarments. ...
  • Does your old favorite shirt have a hole in it? ...
  • Do your shorts still have a weird smell?

Full Answer

Where is the best place to donate clothes?

Jul 31, 2018 · Bras are a clothing item we don’t always think to donate, but Free the Girls is one organization that can put them to good use. They collect new and gently used bras and distribute them to women ...

Where to donate used or old clothes to charity?

Donate clothes and other household items in Oklahoma. Charities such as AMVETS donation pick up , Prevent Blindness Oklahoma, Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled, United Cerebral Palsy of Oklahoma, Salvation Army donation pick up , Vietnam Veterans of America donation pick-up , and more will pick up your donations for free and leave you a tax ...

What charities pick up clothing?

Clothing Donations Help the VVA. Whether you’re cleaning out your family’s closet in the spring, browsing through some outdated beachwear in the summer, making room for your children’s back-to-school clothes in the fall, or are in a generous and giving mood during the winter holiday season, you might consider donating your unwanted clothes to a cause that supports veterans.

Where can I donate food, clothes and toys?

Sep 28, 2016 · Goodwill operates more than 3,200 individual stores, Kyle Stewart, director of donated goods retail, told HuffPost. When you donate a bag of clothing at a store, workers most likely parse through it to determine what can be sold and what can’t: Wet or mildew-y clothes are eliminated, but everything else is fair game.

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What clothes should you not donate?

No fabric items like bedding, towels, or clothes should be donated unless they have been cleaned. Dry clean or wash everything and treat any stains before donating.Jun 28, 2021

Is it good to donate your clothes?

Doing a good deed like donating your old clothes will make you feel good because you're doing something for a worthy cause. You're getting rid of the clutter in your home and helping others at the same time. Nearly 100% of the textiles in your home can be recycled and donated, regardless of the quality or condition.May 7, 2018

Why do people not donate clothes?

Charity stores have massive problems with receiving soiled, torn, or otherwise unsuitable textiles that can't be sold or given away. In some cases, charities are even forced to spend money sorting and disposing of this material, of which an estimated 25% goes directly to landfill.Jan 10, 2020

How do I decide what clothes to donate?

Here are seven signs to consider when getting rid of clothes.It Has Stains, Holes, or a Smell.You No Longer Love It.It's From an Outdated Trend.It Hasn't Fit in a Year.You Haven't Worn It in a Year.It No Longer Fits Your Style.It's Uncomfortable.Nov 13, 2020

Is donating clothes reusing or recycling?

Best Ways to Recycle Clothing Donate your unwanted garments! As we've said, it's a simple way to recycle that helps both the environment, those in need, and yourself.Mar 4, 2020

Why should we donate to the poor?

You can reap social, physical, mental, and spiritual benefits. By giving your time to a charity, you get the opportunity to build your social circles by working with like-minded people. You may also be able to do something physical, giving you the opportunity to become healthier and happier.

What do charity shops do with clothes they can't sell?

Clothes which can't be sold in the shop will be sold to textile recycling companies, so they still make money for the charity. The Charity Retail Association has advice on donating unusual items.

Do clothing stores throw away clothes?

So many companies choose to shred, incinerate or simply throw away the stuff they can't sell. That maybe part of the reason nearly 21 billion pounds of textiles end up in landfills each year, though a lot of that comes from us customers.Mar 10, 2014

What percent of clothes are donated?

Only 28 percent of people donate used clothing, and a mere 7 percent of people purchase used clothing, according to Savers 2018 State of Reuse Report. With that kind of math, it's not so surprising that landfills — and not other people's closets — that become the final destination for the clothes.

How many pairs of clothes should I have?

A regular person should have at least 7 shirts in their closet to have a clean one for each day of the week. However, our life circumstances vary and some women don't need as many to sustain them through the week.Aug 31, 2021

How much clothes does the average person have?

People own an average of 148 pieces Most survey respondents seem to have between 77 to 155 pieces in their wardrobe with a few outliers in the 300+ range.

How do I know if I have too many clothes?

If you have to do a hip check to get your sock drawer to close…you may have too many clothes. And if you wear the same outfits over and over because you feel overwhelmed by all the choices…you definitely have too many clothes.Jul 19, 2020

Is donating clothes good for the environment?

By donating your clothing, you stop the landfills from getting bigger and you keep usable material from being thrown in the trash. Many mass-produced clothing lines have fibers inside of them that will never break down, no matter how much time passes.Jan 5, 2021

Why donate is important?

Donating to the causes you care about not only benefits the charities themselves, it can be deeply rewarding for you too. Millions of people give to charity on a regular basis to support causes they believe in, as well as for the positive effect it has on their own lives.

What happens to clothing after death?

After a death, especially when the person was single or widowed, there may be a house full of stuff that doesn’t have an obvious destination. Some of it will be saved and cherished by loved ones, especially family heirlooms and other items with special sentimental ...

What is professional clothing?

Professional clothing can be used by an organization that helps homeless and underprivileged people prepare for job interviews and gainful employment. Women’s professional clothing, including shoes and accessories, can be donated to Dress for Success, while men’s professional clothing, shoes, and accessories can be donated to Career Gear.

What is Share Your Soles?

Share Your Soles accepts shoes of all kinds, to be passed along to people in need. Soles 4 Souls also distributes shoes to people in poverty, and if your donation is under a certain weight, you can get a free shipping label for sending them in. Athletic shoes that are too worn to donate can be recycled through Nike’s Reuse a Shoe program, ...

What is Cinderella Project?

The Cinderella Project is a network of local dress donation programs – search for their name plus your city or region to see if they operate near you. Bras are a clothing item we don’t always think to donate, but Free the Girls is one organization that can put them to good use.

What is Hope Scarves?

Hope Scarves collects used scarves and passes them along to women in cancer treatment. One focus of the organization is sharing the stories of women who have undergone treatment, so this is an especially compelling donation if your loved one fought cancer, but scarves are accepted from anyone who wishes to donate.

Can I donate wedding dresses?

Wedding dresses can be a treasured, sentimental item, but sometimes there’s just not space or desire to keep them after a loved one’s death. You can donate a wedding dress to a beautiful cause, instead. Brides Across America accepts newer dresses as well as vintage ones, plus veils and accessories, to be donated to military ...

What to do with stained towels?

For sheets and towels that are permanently stained or badly worn, wash and give to animal shelters who can always use them. Check all the pockets, especially in purses and wallets. Charities find personal information, money, credit cards, and even jewelry.

Can small amounts of food and clothing change lives?

Of course, providing small amounts of financial assistance, food, and clothing, can help can change lives. This is especially true when there is a crisis within a community. However, it also takes a lot of work and resources to deal with inappropriate donations.

What is Planet Aid?

Planet Aid. Many charities only accept clothing that's in good and wearable condition — but Planet Aid is different. The organization makes it easy to donate and recycle all of your unwanted clothes, with the mission of saving all textiles from the landfill to help protect the environment.

What is the Red Cross?

One of the oldest and most well-respected humanitarian organizations in the country , the American Red Cross provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and disaster preparedness education for millions of people around the world. The non-profit currently has a partnership with GreenDrop, an organization that will take donated clothes and re-sell them to thrift stores to benefit the American Red Cross.

What is one warm coat?

Donate your spare jackets to One Warm Coat, a non-profit that provides free coats to people in need. Working towards its mission of raising awareness of the vital need for warm coats across the country, the organization has hosted more than 38,000 coat drives and has provided 6.6 million free coats since 1992.

Does Goodwill take used clothes?

Accepted donations: Goodwill accepts all new and gently used clothing, including shoes and accessories. They also take other household items such as books, furniture, appliances and more.

What is the Salvation Army?

The Salvation Army is an international charity organization that provides assistance to nearly 23 million Americans each year, with services that include everything from operating homeless shelters and conducting disaster relief to providing support for veterans, the elderly and the LGBTQ+ community. Clothing donations go toward stocking the charity's network of thrift stores, with all proceeds helping fund The Salvation Army's adult rehabilitation centers.

What is the VVA?

The Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) is an organization dedicated to promoting and serving the needs of Vietnam War veterans through legislative initiatives, education and outreach programs. The non-profit collects donations of clothing and household items, which they either give directly to homeless and low-income veterans or re-sell in their resale stores to generate funds for their various programs and initiatives.

Is Goodwill a non profit?

The non-profit is funded by a massive network of retail thrift stores across the country. Revenue from the stores goes directly toward helping individuals find employment and grow their careers by providing them with job training, placement services and other community-based programs. Anything they can't sell, Goodwill will forward to recycling organizations that will help the items avoid the landfill.

What is the Red Cross in need of?

During times of crisis and natural disasters, the American Red Cross (and other local and national organizations) is often in need of clothing for those who were hit by the crisis.

Can you donate clothes to hurricane victims?

It is a wonderful idea to donat e clothes to fire victims and to donate clothes to Hurricane Harvey (and other hurricane) survivors. Many communities work together to gather clothing donations during these times of crisis thanks to the American Red Cross or other similar organizations which accept clothing donations.

Donating in Oklahoma is Free and Easy

Ready to make a donation to charity? Check out our directory of charities that offer donation pickup service. Here’s how

Donate Almost Anything

Most of the charities in the Oklahoma Donation Town directory will come and pick up the following donations:

Where Can I Donate Clothes, Furniture, Books and Other Household Goods in Oklahoma?

Ada, Altus, Alva, Anadarko, Antlers, Ardmore, Atoka, Barnsdall, Bartlesville, Beaver, Beggs, Bethany, Bixby, Blackwell, Blanchard, Boise City, Bridgeport, Bristow, Broken Arrow, Broken Bow, Cache, Catoosa, Cedar Valley, Centrahoma, Chandler, Checotah, Chelsea, Cherokee, Chickasha, Choctaw, Claremore, Cleveland, Clinton, Coalgate, Collinsville, Comanche, Commerce, Coweta, Crescent, Cushing, Davis, Del City, Dewey, Drumright, Duncan, Durant, Edmond, Elgin, Elk City, El Reno, Enid, Erick, Eufaula, Fairview, Frederick, Garber, Geary, Glenpool, Grandfield, Grove, Guthrie, Guymon, Haileyville, Harrah, Hartshorne, Healdton, Heavener, Henryetta, Hobart, Holdenville, Hollis, Hominy, Hooker, Hugo, Idabel, Jay, Jenks, Kaw City, Kingfisher, Konawa, Krebs, Lawton, Lehigh, Lexington, Lindsay, Lone Grove, McAlester, Madill, Mangum, Marietta, Marlow, Maud, Medford, Miami, Midwest City, Minco, Moore, Morris, Muskogee, Mustang, Newcastle, New Cordell, Newkirk, Nichols Hills, Nicoma Park, Noble, Norman, Nowata, Oilton, Okemah, Oklahoma City, Okmulgee, Owasso, Pauls Valley, Pawhuska, Pawnee, Perkins, Perry, Picher, Piedmont, Ponca City, Pond Creek, Poteau, Prague, Pryor Creek, Purcell, Ringwood, Sallisaw, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Sayre, Seiling, Seminole, Shawnee, Shidler, Snyder, Spencer, Stigler, Stillwater, Stilwell, Stroud, Sulphur, Tahlequah, Tecumseh, The Village, Thomas, Tishomingo, Tonkawa, Tulsa, Tupelo, Tuttle, Vinita, Wagoner, Walters, Warr Acres, Watonga, Waurika, Waynoka, Weatherford, Wetumka, Wewoka, Wilburton, Wilson, Woodward, Wynnewood, Yale, Yukon.

What is S.M.A.R.T?

S.M.A.R.T., for example, is a trade association whose independent member businesses work to recycle textiles. On average, 45 percent of clothing that makes it to S.M.A.R.T. is either re-sold into the U.S. used clothing industry or sent overseas into markets with more demand, spokesperson Kathy Walsh told HuffPost.

Can clothes be recycled?

According to Walsh, nearly 95 percent of all clothing waste could be reused and recycled. We just aren’t disposing of it properly. For starters, you should never, ever throw your clothes in the garbage, Medellin says. Instead, take them to a Goodwill or other donation center.

Why can't I donate clothes?

Thankfully there are other things to do with clothes you can't donate because they're not in good enough condition to give away. There's always a solution to a problem, and a place for your favorite boy band t-shirt. Old or unwanted clothing, it turns out, is also an environmental threat, just like plastic.

How many tons of textiles were in landfills in 2015?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that in 2015 landfills received up to 10.5 million tons of textiles. If your jaw has appropriately dropped and your tree hugging heart has been crushed under the weight of this number, know there are ways to prevent this!

Can you compost old clothes?

According to Recyclebank, you can compost old clothes that you can't donate. However, this is only exclusive to cotton. Your dad's polyester suit from the '70s won't be able to be processed. According to Recyclebank, "Cotton and other natural-fiber clothing can even be composted as long as they are not blended with synthetic fibers like polyester; make sure to shred it finely and remove attachments like zippers and buttons."

Can you donate clothes to H&M?

Give Your Clothes To H&M. Giphy. Eliminate "can't" from your vocabulary. Actually, you can donate your worn out clothing. Kind of. Clothing retailer H&M has joined the zero waste mission. According to their website you can donate textiles from any brand, in any condition and they'll take care of the rest.

Can you donate old socks?

You may not be able to donate all your old and odd socks, but you can recycle them. You can recycle most textiles your closet doesn't have space for anymore or your socks don't have a pair for. Going through companies like American Textile Recycling Service, you can hand over your worn out clothing responsibly.

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