It goes without sating that being in the military is tough job that requires an extraordinary amount of commitment, dedication, hard work, and of course sacrifice. Not only are these qualities required of active duty military members, but of their spouses, children and family as well.
It’s common for military families to face unique challenges that, while many civilian families may be able to sympathize with, may find it difficult to truly relate to. For example, any active duty military members often miss holidays with their families, and many times they may even miss the birth of their own children due to frequent, long deployments. In addition, it’s common for military families to carry higher amounts of credit card debt.
Therefore, Uncle Sam wants you to give back in anyway that you can. Everyone has busy schedules nowadays, thanks to work, school, activities, and family time. However, even though you may have a hectic schedule, there are still plenty of ways to give back and show your support for military families.
It’s common for organizations that help military families to receive the majority of their charitable donations during the winter holiday season, however, charity donations can be made all year round. In fact, they’re needed all year round. Perhaps one of the simplest ways to give back when you’re short on time is by making clothing donations.
Donating gently used clothing is perhaps one of the most beneficial and fastest ways to give back to the military community. For example, many veterans face higher rates of unemployment than non-veterans. By donating gently used business casual clothing and professional attire to the military community, you’re helping veterans and spouses of active duty military personnel gain a competitive edge.
Last but not least, clothing donations help the environment — another cause which many Americans are passionate about — be reducing the amount of textile waste and pollution that ends up in landfills.
Category: Charities that will pick up donations
Homelessness in the United States has always been a major concern for government officials and the public alike. Though it may not be fair to say that homelessness has reached an all-time high, it is still a devastating problem throughout the country. The Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that more than 600,000 people at any given night are without a home to go to. For those 600,000 people — a quarter of whom are children — charitable clothing donations go a long way.
Donating clothes to charity truly provides support for those who, for various reasons, cannot help themselves. The homeless are some of the most vulnerable members of our society. Without the kindness of strangers, these men, women, and children would have absolutely nothing to keep them going. It should be noted, too, that it is not only the homeless that rely on charitable donations. The poor in America also receive aid from charity organizations; used clothing is no exception. It is hard to say how many people exactly depend on charitable clothing donations but one thing is for sure: there are far too many. For the richest nation in the world, the U.S. has a tragic and painful issue with penury.
And given the fact that charitable donations mostly come from individuals (in 2013, nearly 72% of all charitable donations came from individuals as opposed to corporate giving, 5%, and educational organizations, 16%), individual donations of lightly used clothing truly make a difference. There are a variety of non-profit organizations that accept and distribute spare clothing. Some of them will even pick up donations directly from your front door or curb! Nearly all of us have spare clothing — clothing we no longer wear or that no longer fit. Please consider donating them to charity. It may not seem like much but for the thousands of people out on the streets or otherwise down on their luck, it means the world.
The holiday shopping season between November and December is the busiest time of year for retailers, and the time in which they make the most profit. The same is true for non-profit organizations that help military families. While they may not be turning a profit, the holiday season is the period of time in which they receive the most charitable donations. While the chaos and excitement of last year’s holiday season is in the past, there is still plenty of work that need to be done.
There are several ways you can give back in the new year, many of which can be done from the comfort of your home or work. The first few weeks of January have been bitterly cold, with areas across the nation experiencing subzero temperatures. As such, warm weather clothing donations have been in high demand. In addition to winter clothing, professional and business casual attire is in demand year round. These donations allow veterans to reenter the workforce with confidence.
Clothing donations are perhaps one of the easiest and most convenient charitable donations to make. There are several organizations that pick up clothing donations directly from your home or work.
Non-perishable food items such as canned goods, rice, pasta, and others also make for excellent charitable donations. Take advantage of store deals and coupons that make stocking up on these items easy and affordable. Or, if you have a natural affinity and love for cooking, why not volunteer to cook a meal at your local military and veteran organization?
Volunteering your time is an not only an excellent way to to give back to the military and veteran community, it’s an excellent way to network and meet other like-minded community members. In addition, volunteering has been shown to have several mental and emotional benefits, such as increased mood and sense of purpose.
Donating and volunteering allows you to contribute to a great cause, help those in need, and enjoy a sense of accomplishment.