Category: Clothes donations

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Clothes donations Donate old clothing Red cross donation center

Why You Really Should Consider Making A Charitable Donation

Donating to charity is a common practice all throughout the United States, one that many people partake in. As a matter of fact, just under 5% of the total collective yearly income of everyone in this country ends up being donated to various charitable organizations. In addition to this, very nearly three quarters of the total American population (around 70%, to be just a little bit more exact) will donate to a charitable organization at least once over the course of a year.

And fortunately, even those who are not able to make any kind of monetary can donate to charity in the form of used clothing. Used clothing donations are incredibly valuable for a number of reasons, and it’s a type of donation that just about anyone and everyone will be able to make at least once in a year, if not even more frequently than this. After all, the average person of today now owns at least double the articles of clothing than a person who was living about 20 years ago would have had. Over the cours

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Clothes donations Red cross clothing pick up Red cross donations

When Was the Last Time You Made a Significant Charitable Donation?

The decision to donate clothes to Red Cross is often more common after a natural disaster like Hurricane Michael that recently stormed its way through Florida. The fact of the matter is, however, there is always a need for the essentials families rely on to transition from life’s unpredictable emergencies. American Red Cross donations are the literal life line that families rely on when they are faced with a home fire, a natural disaster, or other emergency. From the blood donations that so many people think or then they talk about this organization to the opportunities for people to donate clothes to Red Cross, there are few organizations that have as wide a reach.
Groups that collect used clothing donations offer a helping hand to people who cannot imagine what their future holds. A warm jacket, a dry pair of shoes, a clean pair of underwear are the simple, yet very impor

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Clothes donations Red cross clothing pickup

DOs and DON’Ts for Donating Goods to Charity

Clothing donations

Have you ever considered clearing out the clutter you have around the house with a Red Cross clothing pick up service? We know what you’re probably thinking…”Red Cross clothing pick up service? I thought the Red Cross was for blood donations and money!”


In reality, the Red Cross is instrumental in meeting a wide range of needs when disaster strikes across the globe. Some of those needs are met with your blood donation. Some of those needs are met with your cash donation. And some of those needs are met with their Red Cross clothing pick up program.


When you use a Red Cross clothing pick up service, you’re able to clear out the unneeded clutter in your home, without even leaving your drive way. From there, the Red Cross uses your goods to take care of people in need. Your unneeded items meet a need and get a second life, rather than collecting dust in your home until you threw them away and they ended up in a landfill. That’s what we call a win, win, win situation my friend.

However, there’s a right and a wrong way to make used clothing donations. Whether you’re making American Red Cross donations, or you donate clothing to any other equally valid organization, please remember our list of DOs and DON’Ts:


DOs and DON’Ts for Donating Goods to Charity

  1. DO Group Similar Items Together

    The volunteers who work in the receiving center at the Red Cross, or any other organization that you give your goods to, sort through thousands and thousands of bags of goods per day. It’s their responsibility to figure out what is suitable to be reused or sold in their thrift store, and what should be recycled.


    Now, imagine that those thousands of bags were actually filled with jigsaw puzzle pieces that created one big picture, but you didn’t know what that picture was. When you put the bottom to the pot in this box and the lid to it in that box over there, and one flip flop here and the pair in another bag down the way, the volunteers who have to sort out your stuff are essentially doing a jigsaw puzzle without any reference picture. They don’t even know if you included both shoes in any of the bags. As you can imagine, this requires more effort than value they can really get from your donation.


    Instead, take just a few extra minutes while you’re boxing up your goods and attach like items together with a rubber band or tape. While we’re on the subject, it makes it a lot easier on the sorters if you put all the kitchen items together in a single box, and all the clothing items together and so on. Then, you’ve done the hard part of the jigsaw puzzle for the volunteers.

  2. DON’T Donate Trash

    Whether the organization you’re giving to is giving your goods directly to families in need, or selling them in a thrift store and using the cash to further their purpose, they can’t do anything with items that are broken or too worn out to be used. In these cases, the volunteers usually have to discard the broken and worn out items. In fact, you pay a trash service to come pick up your garbage. When you give unusable items to a Red Cross clothing pick up program, you’re literally treating them like a free trash service.


    If your unwanted items are not usable, look for an organization that recycles them for another purpose instead of an organization like the Red Cross that wouldn’t be able to reuse them.


  3. DO Treat Fragile Items as You Would if You Were Moving.

    As we mentioned above, items that are broken don’t really serve any purpose for a charity like Red Cross. If an item is in good shape when you turn it over to the donation pick up workers, but breaks before it makes it to the donation center, it serves as little purpose as if it were broken to begin with. To protect your donated items and ensure they do the most good, wrap breakable items in news paper or grocery bags or bubble tape or another protective barrier and write, “Handle with Care!” on the exterior.

Do you have questions or comments? Share below!

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American red cross donations Clothes donations Clothing donations

Clothes Donation Easy, Convenient, Necessary

Donate clothes to red cross

We are often amazed by the great tragedy that befalls others in this world. We worry about people in other parts of the country or in other parts of the globe. What’s worse, we want to help, but we don’t quite know how we can do that. We think, “What can I do to make a difference?”

The problem is that when we ask that question we produce it with a sort of bias. When we ask what can I do, we are thinking that the only thing that can be done is actively being there to help. The thing is, that’s not the only option. Now you ask, “What is this option that everyone can take part in at this very second? Even me?” American Red Cross Donations. That’s what.

Participating in things like American Red Cross donations can be a great help at the end of the day. For instance, when natural disasters happen and victims lose their homes and property, what are they to wear? If you were to donate your clothes than these survivors could know that there are still people out there who care. If you and your family were in trouble wouldn’t you want the same? Clothing donations are the least that a person can do in order to help others.

In addition, we American consumers are so wasteful with our clothes when we could at least give away what we don’t want. Around 20 billion garments of clothes are used by Americans in a given year. On top of that, we also throw away 10 pounds of those clothes per person in the same year. If we took the time to pick out the clothes we didn’t want and donate them instead of throwing them out, we could be helping those in need.

Also, some feel that it’s too much of a hassle to give. Well, the clothes that we have laying in our closet can be given to a Red Cross pickup or a clothing donation center. Not only are there multiple centers around the country, but in some the accessibility of these organizations is even more convenient than we think. There are even some that go around to houses to pickup the clothes. Helping others has never been so convenient.

Look into American Red Cross donations. These organizations are there to provide care for those who need them. If we all just took the time to donate a little to organizations like this, we could ensure all families were taken care of.

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Clothes donations Donate clothes to red cross Used clothing donations

Want to Help Others? Here Are 7 Reasons to Donate Your Used Clothing to Charity

Clothes donations

If you are like most people, you like helping others and giving back to your community. More than 70% of people across the United States make charitable donations every year. A good deal of these are Red Cross clothes donations. Making used clothing donations is a great way to help others. Here are some reasons you should consider giving your used clothing to charity.

  1. You help other people directly. When disaster strikes, many people are often left with nothing but the clothes they are wearing when they are told they need to evacuate an area. While monetary donations are often needed the most by large non-profits, when you make Red Cross clothes donations, the items you give can go directly to people who have lost everything. If you also have blankets or bedding that can often be used after big natural disaster like a flood, hurricane or tornadoes strike an area.
  2. You donations allow the non-profit to pay for its operations. Many non-profit organizations run consignment shops to help fund their operations. Many times, Red Cross clothes donations are used this way. Charities provide a wide array of services that help people in the community who need it. The funds raised by selling the clothes that have been donated help them provide those services and employ people to do the work that needs to be done. Every year, non-profits put more than $660 million back into the American economy. Consignment shops brought in more than $2.5 million in 2015. This money was used to fund local and national programs.
  3. You get a more organized house. Most people around the United States have closets and storage spaces that are full of stuff they no longer use. If your children have outgrown their clothes and you have no one to hand them down to, you should consider whether you want to make a clothing donation. Organizing experts recommend people go through their clothing every year and check for items that they no longer wear or need. If you have had an outfit that has gone unworn for two seasons or more, it is time to get rid of it.
  4. You can lower your tax bill. When you donate clothes the Red Cross, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) treats the donation the same way they treat a monetary donation. If your Red Cross clothes donation is worth more than $250, you will need to include a receipt. A used man’s overcoat is generally given a value of $60 or more, to give you an idea of what you can mark the value of the items you donate. It is aways a good idea to keep good records of all of your donations throughout the year so you have all of your paperwork ready when you go to compile and file your taxes.
  5. You inspire others. We are all influenced by the people around us. Sociologists and others note that when people see others acting in a certain way, they are more likely to act in the same way. Your example will inspire other people to donate as well. In that way, your good deeds get magnified over and over. If you have children, this is a great way to teach them the value of helping others.
  6. You reduce your carbon footprint. It has been estimated that the typical American throws away about ten pounds of clothing items every year. Those items end up in a landfill where they do nothing to help anyone and they add to the worldwide problem of global warming. The space they take up is also very valuable. You can help others and keep material out of landfills by donating your clothes to charity.
  7. It is easy! If you cannot get to the charity, they may be able to come to you. Many charities will pick up donations.

When you are donating clothing, you should make sure you clean and wash all of the items before you make your donation. Also, if you sort your items, you will make it a lot easier for the charity’s staff to go through and make the most of your kindness and generosity.

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Clothes donations Helping military families

The Future Has Already Arrived You Can Donate Without Getting Up From Your Couch!

Clothing drop off locations

You can use your phone to do just about anything these days — can you use it to donate used clothing as well? In Florida, this might just be possible in the near future.

According to Public News Service, the state Capitol is considering a ?Suits for Session? organization — lawmarkers, nonprofit agencies, and state employees can donate new or gentle used professional clothing. This clothing will then be given to individuals looking to re-enter the job market — but perhaps cannot afford to look the part just yet.

One Time Event Uses Uber

For now, it will likely be a one time event, and anyone in the area will be able to take part through use of Uber, a global ridesharing app and service. The service will help to prevent appropriate clothing from being an obstacle to employment — something many people living in or close to poverty report experiencing.

While this may seem like something that won?t come to your city anytime soon, the truth is, donation pickups are a service that already exist around the country! There are many charitable organizations that are willing to meet you halfway. It can be difficult to find the time — or sometimes, the ability to transport — the things you want to donate. But donating is important. Charitable donations not only helps keep items out of landfills, but can also help to serve local charities.

What You Need to Keep in Mind When Contributing Local Clothing Donations

If you want to receive a tax write off for your donations, you?ll need to support a group that files for tax-exempt service under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. If you plan on deducting more than $500 than you will need a qualified appraisal submitted with your tax return for the IRS. You may be surprised by how much some of your items are worth in a tax write off! A coffee maker, for example, can be worth as much as $15 in a tax write off. So long as you are not lying about estimated value, you will likely be okay.

When you’re on the fence between donating your used items or posting them to Craigslist, consider this: local clothing donations are a great way to support and get to know your community. Get more info here. Continue reading here.

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Clothes donations Clothing donation pickup Red cross pickup

Helping Your Community With Your Used Clothing

Clothes donations

Every parent knows the frustration of how quickly their kids tend to grow out of their clothing. It seems as if every other week, your kids are growing out of their shirts, sweaters, shoes or pants. You have to run to the store, getting them more clothing; and spending more money, only to have them grow out of those items just as quickly. It is frustrating, but what about those parents who cannot afford to continuously purchase new clothing items for their ever growing kids? That?s where great places, various charities come in to donate clothes to these children. These charities rely solely on the donations of clothing from others, to provide these necessities to in-need families.

Americans consume nearly 20 billion garments a year. That?s 68 garments and 7 pairs of shoes per person or more than one piece of clothing purchases per week! An even greater statistic is the fact that according to the EPA; American?s throw away an average of 10 pounds of clothes per person per year. Those discarded clothing items could be recycled and provided to families and children in need. A small 3% of American income is given to charities each year. This small amount could be increased by simply donate clothing to the charities that are providing to the homeless or those in need.

The process to donate clothes has only become easier over the years. Many of the charities have set up the process to ensure it is quick and easy, hopefully encouraging clothes donations. Many charities have an actual clothing donation center. This is a physical location, where you can easily drop your clothing items off. This might also be a place that those in need can go to for help. They can often either purchase clothing for very cheap, or they can receive free clothing, if needed. Additionally, there are also clothing donation pickup centers available. These are services that some of the larger charities can offer for convenience. They will send a truck to pick up the clothing items or any additional items that you wish to donate to charity. The process is extremely easy, with the workers doing all of the hard work for you. Finally, many charities have drop off points or boxes located throughout the city, allowing you to drop your donated clothing items off while getting your gas or grocery shopping.

Donating your used and unwanted clothing items to charities has many advantages. When you donate clothes to Red Cross or other places, you are helping in more ways than one. You are providing those in need with clothing that they might not otherwise be able to afford. You are also providing a type of income to provide other needed items. When you donate clothes, you are helping out your community in many ways.

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Charities that pick up donations Clothes donations Veterans clothing donations

Surprising Facts About How Clothing Donations Help the Environment

Organizations that help military families

Environmental concerns have been rising for years. Here are some facts you may not know about the environment and how you can do your part to help:

  • The average American makes 4.5 pounds of trash daily. This comes out to an estimated 1.5 tons of waste per year.
  • The Environmental Protection Agency reports that about 75% of solid waste is recyclable, even though only an estimated 30% is actually recycled.
  • Americans create about 21.5 million tons of food waste every year.
  • If that food waste was all composted, the greenhouse gases it would reduce would be equal to the effect of taking 2 million cars off the road.
  • If every American who buys a newspaper recycled just one-tenth of it, 25 million trees a year would be saved.
  • Americans recycled and composted about 87 million tons in 2012.
  • One way to reduce landfill waste and environmental pollution is by clothing donation.
  • The average household in America throws away approximately 68 pounds of clothing a year.
  • This comes out to approximately 12 million tons of wasted cloth.
  • About 99% of that clothing could be donated or recycled.
  • Non-biodegradable synthetic fabrics such as polyester, nylon, and rayon, comprise 5% of the garbage found in landfills
  • In one year, approximately $5.8 billion worth of clothing donations were given as charity donations for non profit organizations and charities
  • Donating clothing to charity resulted in an estimated 2 million tons of clothing kept out of landfills in 2011.
  • Textile recycling creates and maintains about 17,000 jobs in the US at any given time.
  • On average, one person buys 10 pounds of recycled clothing per year.
  • Only about 15% of clothing and textiles were recovered for recycling in 2011.
  • About 80% of clothing donations are used by the organizations collecting it for helping families in need and for funding themselves.
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Why Giving Back is Always Better Than Receiving

Donation pick up maryland

It’s often been said that it is better to give than it is to receive, yet how true is that? Very true, actually. A number of scientific studies have proven that donating and volunteering provide several physical, emotional, and mental benefits, and may even extend one’s life. As such, now is an excellent time to get involved in a cause that resonates deeply with you.

While there are a number of noteworthy causes, showing appreciation and support for military families, troops, and veterans is an important cause for many Americans and one that many actively participate in. Many organizations that help military families receive the bulk of their charitable donations for military families and veterans during the winter holiday season. However, giving back is a year round job. You can find ways to show your support for military families all year long.

For example, clothing donations are an excellent way to give back to the military and veteran community regardless of the time of year. Nowadays, it seems everyone has a hectic schedule which it difficult to find time to give back. Clothing donations allow you to make a difference even if you have a busy schedule. There are a number of organizations that accept clothing donations by offering a donation pick up service.

In addition to helping military families meet their needs, clothing donations also help the environment. An overwhelmingly majority — 99% — of clothing that is discarded could have been recycled. Unfortunately, the typical American household discards nearly 68 pounds of clothing each year. Donating clothes helps to reduce toxic pollution and eases the burden on landfills. Also, it allows you to contribute to and support two causes at once.

Often times, it’s the simplest and smallest gestures that mean the most. Something as simple as buying a military spouse a cup of coffee can be enough to make a difference in their life.