where to donate used clothing

by Darrel Miller 8 min read

Where is good place to donate some used clothes?

Goodwill is one of the most well-known places to donate used clothes (and tons of other things too!). The non-profit is funded by a massive network of retail thrift stores across the country.

Where to donate old or used clothes to charity?

May 24, 2021 · One of the most popular places to donate clothing are the donation bins in parking lots or gas stations. Unfortunately, many of these bins go to shadowy organizations that make millions reselling the clothing (like GAIA and Planet Aid), and they offer little transparency how those funds are used. Some bins do go to decent organizations though (like Big Brothers Big …

Where do you donate your used clothes?

Jun 01, 2020 · Donate Your Clothes to a Local Charity Organization. Sometimes you want to give back directly to your community and drop your gently used clothing items off in your local town or city. Here are five of the top places that usually accept clothing donations: 1. Local Places of Worship. Most churches or places of worship will accept clothing donations.

Where to donate, recycle, resell your clothing?

Jun 01, 2021 · The organization has partnered with GreenDrop, where you can donate all kinds of gently used clothing by going to a drop-off center or scheduling an at-home pickup. Proceeds from clothing sales...

image

Where is the most helpful place to donate clothes?

GoodwillFor Americans, Goodwill is the go-to place to donate clothing. Goodwill is a non-profit that provides job training and generally affordable clothing....Other Places to Donate ClothesSchools. ... Soles4Souls. ... Foster care programs. ... LGBTQ+ centers. ... Refugee organizations. ... Prisons. ... Churches. ... Free clothes banks.More items...•May 23, 2021

What clothes should not be donated?

Related Items2 Worn Socks or Undergarments. Not a big surprise, but even if they're still in good condition, most donation sites cannot accept socks or undergarments that have been worn due to sanitary concerns. ... 3 Expired or Recalled Items. ... 4 Old Electronics.Jan 4, 2018

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.

Should you wash clothes before giving to charity?

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

Why do churches have clothing drives?

Places of worship, such as churches, often hold clothing drives to benefit families in need . Sometimes, they also collect used clothes to resell in their own thrift stores, using the money to benefit the church and its outreach programs.

What is the oldest charity in the United States?

The American Red Cross is one of the oldest and best-known charities in the United States. Its volunteers are among the first on the scene during any natural disaster, including the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 and 2021. It also conducts blood drives and provides training in first aid.

What is the Vietnam Veterans of America?

The Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) is part charity, part political organization. It provides numerous services and support for veterans, including financial counseling, job placement, help with claiming benefits, and education about physical and mental health problems affecting vets. It also lobbies for better health care for veterans.

Is prom night a once in a lifetime event?

Your high school prom is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. The eveningwear you wear to it is once-in-a-lifetime eveningwear. But once prom night is over, it just sits in a closet gathering dust.

What does it mean to wear the right clothes for an interview?

Wearing the right clothes for a job interview can mean the difference between getting a good job and getting passed over. Unfortunately, many young men entering the workforce and some older men reentering it after a period of unemployment can’t afford a good interview suit.

Does Becca's closet accept wedding dresses?

It does not accept wedding gowns, everyday dresses, or any garment with visible damage. Becca’s Closet has 61 chapters across 29 U.S. states. To donate your prom dress, select your local chapter on the organization’s website to find out where to drop off or send your dress.

What does Career Gear do for men?

This national nonprofit helps low-income women get good jobs by furnishing them with professional clothing. Founded in 1997, it now operates in almost 150 cities in 25 countries and has helped more than 1.2 million women further their careers.

How much does For Days take back bags?

For Days has a $6-20 take back bags (affiliate link), depending on the size. For Days is a circular sustainable brand that makes sure the clothes won’t get thrown away. All brands of clothing are welcome.

What can I use rags for?

I also like to use rags for cleaning really gross stuff, like bathtubs, showers, flowers, or toilets.

Does Madewell recycle jeans?

Madewell jeans recycling. Madewell is not the most sustainable or transparent brand, but they do have a denim recycling program that turns old jeans into housing insulation. 6. Facebook groups. If you have ratty but clean clothing, some local artists may be interested in using the textiles for their work.

Why do refugees leave their lives?

Refugees often leave their lives and belongings behind to escape violence in their countries. These organizations not only provide free clothing to refugees, but also often food, shelter, medical care, legal services, and career advising.

What is the Buy Nothing Project?

The Buy Nothing Project has Facebook groups across the world. You join the group of your local area so you can give (and receive) right in your community. The group locations are super specific, and may cities are split up into multiple groups. You can only join the one where you live.

Do foster children have closets?

As a result, foster care programs often have free closets to not only help the children, but also the new foster parents—allowing them to spend more money on the enrichment and development of their new family member.

What is Mutual Aid?

The Mutual Aid App allows you to search for nearby aid requests and respond to them right in the app. There are also Facebook groups that allow you to give and request aid.

Where can I donate clothes?

Donate Your Clothes to a Local Charity Organization. Sometimes you want to give back directly to your community and drop your items off in your local town or city. Here are five of the top places that usually accept clothing donations: 1. Local Places of Worship.

What is thredup thrift store?

ThredUP is an online thrift store where you can buy and sell secondhand clothes. About 78 million items have been upcycled on thredUP since 2012. While you can sell clothes online for cash, they also provide a donation kit where instead of giving you money, they will donate $5 to a charity of your choice.

What is the purpose of the American Red Cross?

In operation since 1881, its main goal is to provide emergency assistance and disaster relief , both in the United States and internationally.

How many coats have been donated by one warm coat?

One Warm Coat is a nonprofit whose goal is to ensure that anyone in need of a winter coat gets one. In operation since 1992, they have donated more than six million coats and hosted over 34,000 coat drives.

What is Dress for Success?

Founded in 1997, Dress for Success is an international nonprofit that empowers low-income women by providing them with professional clothing as they seek and maintain employment. So far their team has donated clothes and accessories to over one million women — and counting.

Can you dump old clothes in the trash?

You might not realize that some textiles are considered hazardous waste or special waste. It almost never makes sense to just dump your old, worn clothing in the trash.

What is room to grow?

Room to Grow, a charity offering clothing, coaching and community building to low-income families, is a wonderful place to donate gently-used baby clothes and gear.

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.

What is a saver thrift store?

Savers is a thrift store that helps local nonprofit groups host clothing drives. The organization pays local charities that donate clothes to the organization and also pays nonprofits for dropping off items at a donation center. Savers accepts many items besides clothing, including books, DVDs, and small household items.

What percentage of clothing ends up in landfills?

According to a 2020 Princeton University study, 57 percent of all discarded clothing ended up in the landfill. © Provided by Martha Stewart Living Damian Lugowski / Getty Images.

What is the Red Cross?

The organization has partnered with GreenDrop, where you can donate all kinds of gently used clothing by going to a drop-off center or scheduling an at-home pickup. Proceeds from clothing sales benefit the American Red Cross' relief programs .

What is the Salvation Army?

The Salvation Army is a charity organization that operates homeless shelters and provides support for the elderly, veterans, as well as the LGBTQ+ community. If you want to donate, you can find a drop-off location at one of its many thrift stores or schedule a pick-up by giving them a call. Earnings from clothing donations go toward helping fund The Salvation Army's adult rehabilitation centers.

What is Dress for Success?

Founded in 1997, Dress for Success is a non-profit organization that provides work attire to low-income women. The organization has expanded to nearly 25 countries and has helped more than 1.2 million women worldwide. "Dress for Success helps women who don't have the clothing they needed for job interviews," says Jeanette Duffy, chief program officer at Dress for Success. "Giving a woman the right clothing allows her to get past the first step of getting hired and puts her on track to achieve career milestones like getting promoted, getting a raise, and becoming financially independent."

What is the arc?

The Arc is a community-based organization advocating for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and serving them and their families. While the organization accepts many different forms of assistance—including monetary donations, donating your time, and much more—you can give your clothes to the Arc by finding a local chapter using the locator tool on its website or by calling and scheduling a pick-up.

What is Goodwill known for?

Goodwill is another well-known organization that provides community outreach for low-income families and individuals. They're most known for their thrift stores throughout the U.S. Donate by finding a local donation center on the Goodwill website.

1. The American Red Cross

Accepted Donations: Gently used clothing items in decent and usable condition#N#Location: Find a drop-off center near you, or schedule a pick-up

2. Goodwill

Accepted Donations: All new and gently-used clothing items, as well as furniture, appliances, and other household items#N#Location: Search for a drop-off center near you, or schedule a pick-up for larger items

3. Free the Girls

Accepted Donations: New or lightly-worn bras in good condition; you can donate up to five at a time#N#Location: Fill out this donation form, then find a drop-off center near you. If there are none, you can ship your donations

4. Planet Aid

Accepted Donations: All clothing, shoes, bedding, and curtains (including items with holes, stains, or tears); wet, dirty, or moldy items aren’t accepted#N#Location: Bag your donations and find a yellow drop-off bin near you

5. The Salvation Army

Accepted Donations: All kinds of clothing items, as well as furniture, appliances, and other household items#N#Location: Find a drop-off center near you, or schedule a pick-up

6. Local Churches, Homeless Shelters, or Nonprofits

These organizations give directly to those in need, right in the community. For example, Housing Works in New York City gives donations to the homeless and those affected by AIDS. To find your local donation drives, ask around and visit your city’s website.

Final Reminders

Now that you know where to donate used clothes, keep in mind that not all clothes are worth donating. Most organizations don’t accept stained clothes, wet clothes, and intimates. To cut down on waste even more, place your donations in a reusable tote bag instead of a plastic bag. Waste is inevitable, but donating is worth the effort.

What to do before you donate tools?

Before you donate: You don't have to do much except box your tools up. Just make sure you don't have anything dangerous floating around in a box in case of someone roots around, i.e., small saws, nails, etc. Contain those items or label them and donate them separately. Read More.

What is a furniture bank?

Furniture Banks lets you donate your gently used furniture to persons in need, typically formerly homeless people trying to get back on their feet financially. Before you donate: Dust it, clean it, and make sure there are no ragged, dangerous edges or nails sticking out that could potentially hurt someone.

Who is Elizabeth Larkin?

Elizabeth Larkin is an organizing and productivity expert with a strong interest in time management and process refinement. Nothing makes clutter clearing easier than knowing your household items, clothes, and shoes are going to a worthy cause.

GATHER YOUR DONATIONS

Gather your unwanted clothes or household goods for a tax-deductible donation to the VVA.

PLACE OUTSIDE YOUR HOME FOR PICK-UP

Rain or shine, our truck will pick-up your donations and leave a tax deductible receipt.

image