Category: Charity donations

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Three Little Known But Important Facts About Clothing Donations

clothing donationDuring the winter holiday season, it’s easy to get caught up in the spirit of generosity, kindness, and that general feel-good vibe. After all, it’s contagious, and the air seems to buzz with radiant, positive energy.

It’s during this chaotic time that organizations receive the most charitable donations out of any other time of the year. In preparation for large holiday feasts, events, and parties, and in order to restock food banks, it’s common for donors and volunteers to give non-perishable food items such as canned goods as charity donations during this time of year.

While all kind of donations are accepted — and needed — donating clothing to charity can be particularly beneficial, regardless of the time of year. With spring just around the corner, now is the perfect time to get a jump start on your spring cleaning while giving back to your community by cleaning out your closet.

Here are three of the top reasons why clothing donations are so important.

They fulfill a basic need
Food, shelter, and clothing are considered the three most basic things every human needs in order to live, making clothing donations of the utmost importance. While winter clothing is especially helpful during the colder months, you can donate all kinds and styles of clothing all year long. In fact, business casual and professional attire is always in high demand. Even if you’re short on time, donation pick up services allow you give back at a time that works best for you.

They’re good for you
While donating and volunteering helps those in need, did you know that it can also benefit your own physiology? According to a research study published in June 2014 by the Citizens Advice Bureau, three out of five participants said donating and volunteering helped them to feel less stressed. In addition, four out of five said donating and volunteering helped to improve their self confidence.

They’re good for the environment
Even though 99% of clothing that is thrown away could have been recycled, Americans discard an average of 68 pounds of clothing a year. By recycling or donating unused or unneeded clothing, you’re helping to reduce landfill waste, as well as pollution to the environment. For example, in 2006, a whopping 2.5 billion pounds of fabric were kept from the landfills by used-clothing purchases.

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The Benefits of Donating Gently Used Clothing

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Military families often face unique challenges that while civilian families may be able to empathize with, seldom experience first hand. Getting involved with an organization that helps military families and veterans may help you to better understand the difficulties these families face.

While it’s common for many people to make charitable donations during the winter holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas, it’s important to realize that helping military families is a full time, year round job. Helping families in need by volunteering your time or making donations can be done during any time of year.

Not only is volunteering or donating an excellent way to give back to the military community, it’s a great way to get involved with other members of your local community and unite under a common cause.

Volunteering or making a donation can take time, time which many people unfortunately do not due to hectic work schedules and other obligations. However, there are a number of easy, simple ways to give back to the military community that require little to no time.

Clothing donations are a perfect way to show veteran and active duty military support while also supporting environmental efforts. Donating clothes significantly reduces the amount of textile waste and pollution in landfills.

They can be picked up directly from your home or office, dropped off at a designated clothing donation bin, or donated in person at a charity. However, many donors choose to have the donations picked up from their homes or work as a matter of convenience.

The beginning of the new year brought frigid, sub-zero temperatures across the nation. As such, winter clothing donations are in high demand. Items such as jackets, hats, coats, gloves, and scarves are all needed.

In addition, gently used professional attire and business casual items such as jackets, button down shirts, dress shoes, pencil skirts, blouses, and heels are often requested by military and veteran charities. Veterans office face higher rates of unemployment, therefore, donating professional clothing helps to save them the expense of purchasing interview-worthy clothes while giving them a competitive edge.

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Why Volunteering is the Gift That Keeps on Giving

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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.