Donating Clothes to the Needy

There are more than 1.5 million tax-exempt charities to support in the United States and all of them do fantastic work in their respective fields. Among the variety of charitable donations one can make, clothing happens to be one of the largest as well as one of the most needed. There are more than 600,000 homeless people in the U.S. today; about a quarter of them are children. For those men, women, and children who live on the fringes of society, charitable clothing donations truly and directly help in their day-to-day lives. They truly are helping families in need.

One thing to keep in mind about clothing donations is not just what is donated but also what is not. Sadly, far too much recyclable textile materials are thrown away when they could be used to make clothing. On average, Americans throw away about 68 pounds of clothing each every year while only purchasing 10 pounds worth of recycled clothing. Nearly 90% of fabrics found in landfills are perfectly reusable. It is for this reason why donating clothing to charity is so important. Without them, even more fabrics and clothing would go to waste.

Thankfully, there are a number charitable organizations to support in helping families in need. Quite a few charities in this country specialize in collecting and distributing clothing to the poor and needy. Nearly all of them are tax-exempt. In fact, some go as far as to pick up clothing donations right from one’s doorstep or curbside! Donating clothing, it seems, has never been easier.

Chances are you have at least a couple items of clothing you no longer wear. From a small pair of socks to a dozen buttoned-down shirts, lightly used clothing can certainly be used by the needy. To find out more about how to donate your clothing, feel free to leave a comment or question at the bottom.