If you need a fast and busy life and do not usually get time or opportunity to give back to society, there can be a number of easy and convenient ways in which you can donate to charitable organizations. Charitable donations account for a lot of good that gets done in the country. Hundreds of thousands of people get to enjoy a better quality of life and can pull themselves back from bad situations through the help of these organizations and by donating to charity, you can help them along to the best of your abilities. Donating to charity can also be considered one of the noblest things that you can do, something that gives you purpose and self-respect. If you have been contemplating donating to charity for a while now and have not been able to accomplish this due to lack of time or opportunity, there is a simple route that you can pursue that will allow you to donate to your heart’s content without having to run into any issues in terms of timing and convenience.
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Category: Clothing donation center
As one of the largest first world nations, America has gained an international reputation as a consumer economy. Our need to purchase is not a point of criticism, but in fact the central driving gear to the wealth of our nation. With so many consumers however, it becomes only natural that waste occurs. The average American throws away around 4.5 pounds of trash every day — over the course of a year that averages out to be over 1,500 pounds of trash. Thanks in large part to a growing social awareness, many Americans are trying to minimize the scope of their impact through conservational efforts including recycling, cutting back on waste, and through charitable donations.
What Our Landfills Wear
Every year our nation consumes nearly 20 billion garments; this is equivalent to 68 garments and 7 pairs of shoes per person in the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests that Americans end up throwing away an average of 10 pounds of clothing per person every year. Studies suggest that of all garments thrown away, almost 100% could have been recycled, donated, or repurposed instead of being left to rot away in our over-crowded landfills. Although many of us have clothing buried in the recesses of our closet that we have not seen let alone wore in years, in an ironic twist there are hundreds of thousands of individuals who would gladly accept such unwanted garments to protect them from the elements. While the nature of our waste is immense, there are exemplars that make a conscious effort to instead practice generosity through used clothing donations.
The Generosity of Our Neighbors
In an increasingly large and diverse world, it is good to know that there are still those with respect, integrity, and love in their hearts — these people are the donors like you and I who are able to benefit countless lives thanks to the services provided through non-profit organizations. Non-profit thrift stores that accept donated goods are able to use the retail dollars generated from those donations in order support neighbors in need. Statistics from 2015 show that proceeds from the sale of clothes donations to thrift stores actually exceeded $2.5 million; these proceeds helped to support charitable programs both locally and nationwide. Around 70% of Americans give to charity on an annual basis with roughly 3% of American income going to charities every year. In return, non-profit organizations have helped to contribute an annual economic value of $666.1 billion to the United States economy. While many are certainly benefited by the tax-deductible donations, around 63% of high net worth donors have cited an altruistic motivation of benefiting the community as their chief motivation for giving.
Donating in Your Community
The number one reason most people choose not to donate goods is due to a lack of available donation sites in their area. There are a number of ways that non-profit organization are meeting this need for drop offs. American Red Cross clothing pick up services are popping up around the country in an effort to better serve the needy by streamlining the donation process. American Red Cross clothing pick up is a simple alternative to traditional drop offs; simply place a call and set up a pick up time and the American Red Cross clothing pick up service will gladly take your charitable donation to help benefit neighbors in need. Like other non-profit organizations, American Red Cross clothing donations help fund blankets, food, shelter, and blood drives that all help save lives. There are other ways that individuals can help those in need: volunteer your time to a homeless shelter, donate non-perishable canned goods during collection times, make a cash donation (every little bit helps), or simply take time to get to know those individuals that need your help — sometimes a friend to talk to is what someone really needs. Check online to see if there is an American Red Cross clothing pick up service in your area to see what you can do to help neighbors in need.
There are many ways to help the world you live in become a better place. It can be as simple as recycling your glass and plastic at the end of every month or promoting a local restaurant that just opened up. It can be as easy as adopting a dog at the shelter or buying a drink from a kid’s lemonade stand. The sky’s the limit for all the ways you can brighten someone’s day and nowhere is that more evident than the benefits that come with American Red Cross donations — from furniture to clothing, a single donation can see you supporting your local community, the country at large and even the environment. If it sounds too good to be true, worry not. Below is a basic list on American Red Cross donations, who they benefit and how they work for everyday people.
How Can I Help People?
Did you know that Americans consume nearly 20 billion garments per year? That’s the equivalent of 68 garments and seven pairs of shoes per person or one piece of purchased clothing per week! According to the EPA, Americans will throw away an average of 10 pounds of clothes per person every year. The United States is a massive country, after all, and everyone is constantly growing out of their wardrobe or seeing their tastes evolve over the years. Studies have shown 70% of people in the United States donating to charity every year, totaling to 3% of overall American income. Can you help make this number higher?
Where Are The Environmental Benefits?
If you’re wanting to become more eco-friendly, you won’t go wrong with American Red Cross donation. A significant portion of discarded clothes and furniture go to landfills, which are notoriously damaging on the environment due to their emitting waste and taking up valuable space. For 24 hours per day and 365 days per year the American Red Cross provides constant relief to families and communities all over the world, in the form of blankets, food, blood donations and shelter. Keeping the environment healthy and happy helps everyone in the long run.
What Other Positives Come From Donating?
Good things just keep on giving. Thanks to American Red Cross donations, this has never been easier. The majority of donations are tax-deductible and can be written on your tax form every year, so be sure to keep those receipts when you bundle up those old sweaters or toss out that couch you’ve been meaning to get rid of. Tax-deductible donations of clothing and household items collected by organizations such as the Purple Heart are sold to charities and thrift stores across the country. The year 2015 saw charity proceeds from the sale of donated goods at thrift stores exceeding a stunning $2 million, adding up to much-needed local and nationwide support.
Why Should I Clear Up My Home?
Psychological studies have shown clutter to be a negative element in many people’s lives, so much so there are entire fields dedicated to the art of maintaining a harmonious and appealing space! Unchallenged clutter can cause concentration issues, irritability, sleeping issues and even symptoms of depression. Likewise, a clean and happy environment boosts your emotional health and can make it easier to function in the day-to-day. Eyeballing that crowded closet or cramped living room? It’s never been a better time to spruce up and donate clothing!
How Do I Get Started?
Donations are necessary year-round and everybody stands to benefit. Got some clothes that no longer fit? Bundle them up and send them to your nearest clothing donation center. No longer wanting that side-table? There’s a family out there more than willing to take it off your hands. You’ll get tax-deductible receipts to go on your next tax return, you’ll keep landfills small and, most of all, you’ll be giving back to your local community. If you find your schedule is too packed for a trip, fear not — the majority of charity organizations offer free clothing donation pickup services, as easy as giving them a call with easy-to-follow directions. American Red Cross donations rely on the kindness and ambition of everyday people like yourself.
Unfortunately, despite good people in the world who work with clothing donation centers and donate clothing, there are still bad seeds in this world. There have always been bad people, but it stings a little more when the bad that is done affects clothing donation centers.
In two separate incidents within one day of each other, used clothing donations were either stolen or destroyed.
According to CBS Detroit, in Michigan, three bins containing more than 1,500 pounds of donated clothing were destroyed by a fire.
Police are looking for a suspect after St. Vincent de Paul workers noticed the bins burnt to a crisp when they got to work.
“We are just distraught over this,” Michelle St. Pierre said. “Just the fact that somebody would do that. I guess that people just don’t realize that we really rely on those donations to help the neighbors in need.”
Another sad story involving a clothing donation center happened in Pennsylvania. WNEP reports that thousands of dollars in donated items were stolen at Hamilton Township.
According to state police, this isn’t the first time that the clothing bins have been burglarized. The Community Aid donation bins have been hit more than 12 times over the last few months — resulting in thousands of dollars in clothing being stolen.
“I think it’s a terrible thing, “Dinh Daugherty said. “I mean you know, why would someone want to do something like that? It’s a donation. It’s for people who are in need.”
A theft this past April resulted in more than $2,500 worth of donations being stolen.
“Stop it if you can, but how can you when it’s right out here in the open?” Art Faber asked. “You can’t police it all the time. You’d have to have someone watching the bins and I don’t think that will work.”
It’s unknown whether or not the bins will be moved into a safer location at this time.
“It’s a horrible thing, Daughtery added. “I mean, especially when you are trying to do something good and people are doing bad things.”
Don’t let the bad acts of a few stop you from going to donate clothes. You can still help people in need.
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