Category: Organizations that help military families

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How You Can Make a Difference By Just Giving Away Your Clothes!

Military support

If you’re looking for a way to give back, perhaps one of the easiest ways is to make charitable clothing donations. If you have kids, this can be made even easier for you — your kids are probably growing at a rapid rate, which leaves piles of clothing that are in perfectly good condition but that your child is now too big for. Instead of letting it pile up in your basement, attic, or garage, why not making a clothing donation to a charity in need? Almost every charity will take clothes, like veterans charities, homeless shelters, and children’s organizations. Not only are you cutting down on your clutter at home, you could be making a tremendous difference in someone’s life.
How Many People Are Making Charitable Clothing Donations? Are The Donations Used?
In 2011, around 2 million tons of clothing and other textiles were either recycled in some fashion or part of a charitable donation. In 2007, almost $6 billion in clothing donations poured into charities. The rate at which donated clothing is actually used is pretty good — in 2011, it was recorded at a little over 15%. Besides which, your average American will buy at least ten pounds of secondhand clothes annually — and with thrift stores being popularized in pop culture, that number is sure to have grown in the last few years. Additionally, around 80% of clothing that gets donated is really used by charitable organizations — either to clothes those who need it, or in sales to help fund their organizations.
How Does My Clothing Donation Help?
As with all donations, even the smallest amount can make a difference. Your donation could give someone a warm winter coat or put shoes on the feet of a child who needs them. They could be part of a first day of school outfit or what someone wears to a job interview, to try and turn their luck around. You’re impacting people’s lives by simply giving away what you don’t need. Donating and being generous also has proven to have good emotional effects on people as well.
Beyond that, you’re also helping the environment. Much of what gets thrown out can be recycled — especially with clothing and textiles. Those types of things can almost always be repurposed or given a second life. Instead, it tends to go in the landfill and take up space. Research has proven that around 12 million tons of clothing (and other textiles) are thrown out annually — far more than is being saved. Even worse, 90% of that could have been reused in some way.
Where Are Places I Can Make a Donation?
Many large organizations have websites where you can find a drop off site for your charitable clothing donations. Some churches or religious institutions may run a clothing drive or you may already be aware of some local charities in your neighborhood that take donations. No matter where you choose to donate, know that you’re making a difference in someone’s life and helping save the environment at the same time!

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Charitable donations Clothing donation Organizations that help military families

Extend a Helping Hand for the Holidays How to Give Back the Right Way

Donations for non profit organizations

This holiday season, there are plenty of families and children in need of warm winter clothing and other assistance. If you’ve been thinking of cleaning out your closets or cupboards and donating, now is the time to do it! For children in need clothing can be a huge gift and you can know that you helped someone in need simply by giving away what you didn’t want. It’s a win-win for everyone — families get warm clothes that are in good condition and you create more space and less clutter in your own home. You also save that material from ending up in a landfill or dump somewhere.
Does Donating Really Help?
Believe it or not, if you donate clothing or other household items, it keeps those items in the consumer loop and prevents them from just being thrown away. About 12 million pounds of clothing or other textiles are thrown out every year in the United States — a huge waste, when it could be used by someone else. For children in need clothing like your kids’ old winter coats could be the difference between staying warm and well during the winter season or coming down with colds.
Additionally, many people enjoy shopping for secondhand clothing. Americans buy about ten pounds of gently used clothing every year, which is great, considering that 90% of the clothing or textiles tossed every year could have been reused. The lower prices on secondhand clothing and the variety to be found in secondhand stores can make it a fun shopping experience — a little like a treasure hunt!
It’s also a popular option for donations — in 2011, for example, about 2 million pounds of clothes or other textile materials were donated or recycled.
It also teaches your kids to give back to the community they live in. It’s great to establish a culture of philanthropy in the house early and promote giving back. Teaching by example is one of the best ways to foster this and will make everyone in the entire family feel good!
Where Can I Donate?
There are multiple charitable organizations in the United States — from charities that will pick up donations to places that you can drop donations off at. If you have a specific charitable interest, such as supporting military charities, veterans charities, or helping families in need more generally, there’s an organization for you to give back to. However, if you’re just starting to think about giving back, a quick online search about a cause you care about or an organization you may have heard about will yield certain results.
Some donors prefer giving material goods as opposed to money, because they feel more certain that their donations are reaching the intended parties without any third party interference. (Many have concerns that a portion of their donations go towards funding the organization itself, instead of reaching the people they’re trying to help.)
For children in need clothing can be a huge way to give back. Consider looking into a charity or a local shelter to donate to — your efforts are sure to be appreciated and you could help turn someone’s life around in a positive way.

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Easy Ways to Help Families in Need

Charities for military families

Poverty is a real problem in America. In the city of Philadelphia, which has the worst poverty rate among the top 10 cities in the U.S., there are about 440,000 people who fall under the current federal poverty line. Of those residents, 39% , or roughly 171,000 people, are children. So how can the average citizen help without breaking their own bank?

One of the best ways to give back to your community and to your environment is through charitable donations. These don’t have to be monetary donations to be helpful, you can donate anything you own that is lightly used and may be useful for helping families in need. Food, clothing, furniture, toiletry items, books, all of these are things you may not use anymore that would mean the world to a child in poverty.

Charitable donations also help the environment- everything that goes to the less fortunate is something that stays out of a landfill. In 2011, textile and clothing donations totaled 2 million tons of fabric! Conversely, every year, about 12 million tons of clothing and textiles are thrown in landfills. Of that 12 million, a shocking 90% of it could have been recycled as a clothing donation.

So when looking at your old clothing and household items, how do you determine what makes the cut and what gets thrown away? First, look at the clothing with a critical eye. Is it ripped, torn, or stained? Hold onto it. If you have any baby items, these are always in high demand, but make sure that the product is not recalled or discontinued for safety issues. Call ahead to your chosen donation organization about things like furniture, computer monitors, or any item over 50 pounds. Some organizations will even pick up donations at your house, or assign a dedicated employee to help you clean out your space and determine what you can and cannot donate (for a small fee).

Thoughts? Ideas? Leave them in the comments.

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Charity donations Organizations that help military families What is a purple heart in the military

The Benefits of Donating Gently Used Clothing

Pick up clothing donations

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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Uncle Sam Wants You to Volunteer

Charity pick up

We’ve all heard the saying that giving is better than receiving, yet, how many of us actually believe that?

Whether we believe it or not, science does. In fact, several studies and extensive research has indicated that those who volunteer report higher levels of overall happiness and satisfaction in their lives, in addition to lower blood pressure and stress levels. The act of giving provides volunteers with a sense of fulfillment and purpose, including pride.

Like many Americans, you may be looking for a way to show your appreciation and support for military families and veterans, but do not know where to begin or even how to do so. Though charitable donations such as non-perishable food items, household goods and appliances, and clothing donations are an excellent way to start, you may be yearning for something that is a little more hands on.

Considering volunteering for local charities that pick up donations. There are a number of organizations that help military families and veterans, many of which offer donation pick up services as a convenience to donors. Charities that pick up donations are always in need of volunteers. Becoming a volunteer gives you the opportunity to meet new people, and become an active member of your community.

Volunteering for local charities that pick up donations is great way to stay active for retirees, who may be looking for a way of re-purposing their lives. Additionally, for college students and graduates, volunteering is an excellent way to build both personal and professional experience.

However, regardless of how you choose to donate, know that you efforts will not go unnoticed and are greatly appreciated. Read more articles like this: www.purpleheartpickup.org

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Organizations that help military families Veterans donations

Three Easy Ways to Support Our Troops

Helping military families

Kids are brightening up soldiers’ days with adorable — and often unintentionally hilarious — letters. “Thank you for fighting for our country. I love the color camo. I am nine. Why did you want to go to the military? Thank you for dieing [sic] for our country. I love American flags. Do you ever stop working?” one such letter begins.

Adults can learn a thing or two from these letters. School children make it perfectly clear: helping military families, active military members, and/or veterans does not necessarily have to entail a large time commitment or over-the-top expenses. Here are some ways to support our troops (in relatively little time and without spending an inordinate amount of money!):

Gift Creative Coupons

For some, asking for help can be awkward and humiliating. Take the burden off military husbands and wives’ shoulders by proactively offering to help. Draw up creative coupons good for “two hours of lawn mowing,” “one night of babysitting,” or “three hours of help with errands,” one military mom suggests. Put the coupons into a gift basket, and give the basket to military spouses on birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions.

Donate Clothes Right From Your Home

If you are really pressed for time and cash, you can still support our troops! There are plenty of charities that will pick up donations directly from your home. Gather clothing donations during spring cleaning, and donate without even leaving home. You can also research communal donation locations, such as churches, office buildings, and schools.

Get Your Neighbors, Friends, and Family In On It

Don’t go it alone! Donating or organizing charity events on your own can easily become overwhelming. Organize group events, and ask as many people as possible — including neighbors, family, and friends — to contribute. Throw together a spring barbecue or a potluck dinner benefiting soldiers or their families, for example.

Giving back to our troops does not have to be costly or time-consuming. Get your friends in on it, volunteer to help military spouses with simple errands, or choose from charities that will pick up donations right from your home.