Category: Clothing donations for veterans

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3 Benefits of Donating to Charities

Veterans donations

There’s a common misconception that if you can’t donate money to charity, you can’t help out. But helping families in need doesn’t always mean donating money; it can mean donating your time in a shelter or kitchen, or donating gently used items. There are so many ways that you can help. The value of charitable donations is not dependent on the form they take! Read on for three reasons you should donate in some way this year.


Good Examples


While total donations were $358.38 billion last year, there are many other ways to get involved with charities. Consider spending a holiday or day around a holiday with your family helping out at a kitchen or shelter. It will set a good example to your children, and help them appreciate the things they have.


Peace of Mind


Helping families in need can give you peace of mind, especially as you move through the holiday season. Christmas has become a largely material holiday, but giving time, money, or items to those in need ensures that you still have the real spirit of the season in you. Not everyone has the means to celebrate Christmas in the way many of us are accustomed to, so helping families in need will make the season slightly better.


Clean Clutter


This is a big reason to give when it comes to clothing donations. About 4.7 billion pounds of clothing are donated, but 10.5 million tons of clothing are dumped into landfills by Americans every year. Donating gently used clothing gives someone who doesn’t have access to clothing something to keep them warm. But for you, it’s a good way to clean out things in your home that you aren’t wearing. It’s a win-win situation.


Will you be getting involved with any charities in the upcoming holiday season? Which ones? Do you make it a family tradition? We’d love to hear your stories and inspirations!

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Your Old Jeans Can Benefit Veterans — Here’s How

Donating clothing to charity

Did you know that of all the clothing that’s thrown away in the United States each year, 99% of it could be recycled? Chances are, you have some clothes you don’t wear that much anymore, whether because your tastes have changed or because the items no longer fit. Rather than throwing those pieces out, consider donating them to veterans charities. Here are three good reasons why:

Keeping Your Trash to A Minimum
How much trash do you think you produce each day? Believe it or not, the average is an astonishing 4.5 pounds, or about 1.5 tons of solid waste per year. Some things simply can’t be recycled — think banana peels, used tissues, broken coat hangers — but by making charitable donations of perfectly good clothing, you can reduce the amount of garbage that you contribute to the nation’s landfills.

Clearing Out Your Clutter
Think about the last time you moved. It’s likely that, in order to make the move easier, you got rid of a lot of your stuff. We live in a society that encourages consumption, but so much of what we’re exhorted to purchase by the ad agencies and big-box stores is really unnecessary. There’s really no good reason to have 10 or more pairs of jeans, for example. Simplify your life, de-clutter your home, and pare down your clothing to the essentials.

Help Others Who Are In Need
Approximately 80% of donated clothing in the United States will directly benefit the needy — either through direct donation or by raising funds. Veterans charities, in particular, are in need of clothing and other donations. Support for military families — some of whom make the ultimate sacrifice — is something that all Americans can feel good about. Naturally, there are other charities besides veterans charities that will gladly take your clothing and other donations, but consider the difference that a few bags of items that no longer fit can make to those who have bravely served in the military.

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The Who, What, Where, When and Why of Donating Clothing to Charity

Wounded veterans charities

With the arrival of spring, many people begin to consider donating clothing to charity organizations in their areas. However, before giving any kind of donation, it is always important to be mindful of what is given and to whom and why they may require those donations. Additionally, many donors are unsure of exactly where and when to donate clothes, which can create some confusion.

If you are planning to donate clothing to charity, make sure that you know exactly how to go about the donation process. Here’s what you need to know about donating using the Five W’s: who, what, where, when, and why.

    Who

    The answer to the question of who is twofold: who receives donations of clothing, and who can donate? The answer to the former can vary depending on the organizations you plan to help. Some focus on helping families in need; others may work with specific populations, such as wounded veterans charities. As for who can donate clothing, the answer is far simpler: anyone can donate to those who are in need.

    What

    What should you donate to charity? Any clothing that can be reused again is the most sought after item for many organizations. If you’re giving in a specific season or climate, make sure that what you’re donating will be useful (e.g. coats and boots for the winter months up north). Additionally, charities will often accept all clothing types, such as garments for men, women, and children of all ages, so now is a great time to clean out your kids’ closets, too.

    Where

    If you’re wondering where to donate household items or clothing, be sure to check locally first. While there are plenty of global charities, there are often groups in your town or city who need clothing donations the most. Start there and then broaden your search if necessary. Thinking locally rather than globally is a great way for those who are new to donating to help others.

    When

    As for the question of when to donate clothes, there really isn’t a wrong time to do so. Clothing donations can be used any season of the year. Make sure that what you give is seasonal, and you should be able to help others easily.

    Why

    You know about who, what, where, and when to donate clothes, but what about why? Besides helping others, donating clothing is also an eco-friendly way to solve the problem of pollution. As much as 12 to 13 million tons of clothing heads to landfills in the U.S. each year,

    Have more questions about donating clothing or other items to charity? Contact an organization in your area that can use the garments, household goods, and other things you and your family no longer need. You can leave a comment for more great suggestions, too.

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Which Charity Organizations Should You Donate Clothing to This Holiday Season?

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The holiday season is almost here, and although it will end before you know it, the winter will continue for a couple more months after that. In many parts of the United States, that means cold weather, which spells trouble for those who don’t have proper shelter or clothing.

While monetary donations to homeless shelters and other charity organizations that aid in housing are a great idea, there is another type of donation you can give that will help the less fortunate during the winter: gently used clothing donations. Clothing donations serve several purposes. They can be used to clothe the needy, be sold in thrift stores to collect proceeds to benefit the disadvantaged, and be recycled to preserve the planet.

If you would like to give clothing this holiday season, but you’re not sure where to start, here are three types of charity organizations that will appreciate what you have to give:

Military and Veterans Charities
Today there are millions of active and retired military members and their families who could use help, especially around the holidays. In addition to clothing donations, many of these charities also look for donations of new toys as gifts for the holidays. Find out if there are any military and veteran charities in your area, especially those that help out wounded and disabled veterans.

Family and Children’s Charities
It’s an unfortunate fact that many families are unable to afford what they need for the holidays. Giving clothing donations, especially for children in need, is a great way to help these families. Most needed during the winter are items such as coats, hats, scarves, mittens and gloves, and boots, plus warmer garments like sweaters and sweatshirts, so be sure to give those if you have them.

Green Charities
Finally, many charities today will use whatever they can get to ensure that nothing heads to the landfill. Many green charities will give away as much as they can before deciding to sell their clothing in thrift stores or recycle it. As much as 20% of clothing donated gets sold in secondhand shops, and virtually all clothing donations can be either salvaged or recycled.

Above all, make sure to look into local charity organizations first. There’s a good chance that there are people right in your area who need help, and donating to a local cause is a great way to help out. Do you have suggestions for donating or questions about giving? Leave a comment below.