What Is the Best Organization to Donate Clothes?
For Americans, Goodwill is thego-to place to donate wear. Goodwill is a non-profit that provides job grooming and generally affordable clothing. While it has a good mission, the organization doesn't always alive up to its name. If yous're hoping to avert Goodwill, or wondering if your donations volition go further elsewhere, hither are some alternative places to donate.
What'south Wrong with Donating to Goodwill?
There's nothing inherently wrong with donating to Goodwill, but your clothes may have a greater impact elsewhere. In some cases, your donated clothing may actually be harming people instead of helping them.
But 20% of clothes donated to thrift stores is actually resold. The residuum is trashed or dumped in the Global South, where it pollutes their land and water, and disrupts their local textile economy. Republic of ghana's Kantamanto marketplace is a prime instance of this.
Besides that, Goodwill tin can be exploitative. Its CEO made $730k in 2018, and many other executives make close to a meg, or at least 6 figures. All the while, many workers with disabilities are paid less than $one/hr. In that location is a legal loophole in the Fair Standards Labor Deed that allows people with disabilities to be paid less than minimum wage based on their productivity.
You could become into an hours-long discussion about the nuances of the policy, other authorities benefits, and how this affects people with disabilities. But one thing is clear: it's not possible to live on a paltry paycheck similar that. It's grossly inequitable and disappointing to run across a not-turn a profit pay workers and so picayune and executives so much.
Don't get me wrong: many Goodwills do a lot of good. Each Goodwill operates independently, and some provide life-changing job training and fair wages to all their workers. I'm not trying to paint all Goodwills every bit horrible organizations; it'due south only important to recognize that not every location may be as charitable every bit you call up.
To check if your Goodwill is "good," you tin always look at the website of your local or regional branch. If you lot can't discover information about fair wages, I'd recommend contacting them directly or reading worker reviews on Glassdoor.
Regardless of whether or not your Goodwill has fair policies, it's however helpful to learn about alternatives that may have a more direct touch on on your community.
Where Not to Donate Dress + What Non to Donate
Before you drop off your handbag of wear, I recommend repurposing or upcycling what you can. When your apparel stay with yous, you lot know their impact.
I of the most popular places to donate clothing are the donation bins in parking lots or gas stations. Unfortunately, many of these bins get to shadowy organizations that make millions reselling the vesture (like GAIA and Planet Assistance), and they offer piffling transparency how those funds are used. Some bins practise go to decent organizations though (similar Large Brothers Big Sisters), so you lot should research the org first.
In general, you should too avoid donating ratty clothes. Some organizations have textile recycling programs, merely non all practise. If you lot donate dirty, torn, or otherwise unwearable clothing, you may be hurting the charity since they accept to spend resources getting rid of your trash. If y'all take ratty clothes, I'll cover some options for getting rid of them at the end of this postal service!
I fully recognize that all of these alternatives are more than effort than merely dropping off a bag of apparel, just I think we should take more responsibility for the items we bring into our closets. Donating is also often used every bit an excuse to swallow more.
I also desire to see more retailers take responsibleness for their items. I love that more than and more than companies are offering a identify to buy used/resell on their own websites, or creating recycling programs.
An example of what Non to do—people are basically using these donation bins as trash cans.
Places to Donate Clothes Direct to People
One of the best ways to ensure your wearable volition exist used is to give it abroad directly. While you can't control what they ultimately do with the habiliment, these people volition go out of their way to choice things upwards from you lot; if they're willing to put in that endeavour, they're more probable to make use of the clothing.
one. Buy Nothing Groups
The Buy Naught Project has Facebook groups across the world. Yous join the group of your local area and so you can give (and receive) right in your customs. The group locations are super specific, and may cities are divide up into multiple groups. You can only join the one where yous alive.
I honey using my Buy Zilch Group because it lets yous connect with nearby people who are eco-minded. I also frequently run into people "re-gift" items that didn't work out, which reassures me that nearly people in the grouping won't let your vesture get trashed.
ii. Freecycle.org
Freecycle is on online forum that allows you to post offers or wanted items. Unlike Buy Nothing groups, you can join multiple locations.
Other local trade or resale apps include Nextdoor, OfferUp, and Bunz.
3. Common Help App or Facebook Groups
The Mutual Assistance App allows you to search for nearby aid requests and answer to them right in the app. There are also Facebook groups that permit you to requite and asking aid.
4. Facebook Marketplace
FB Market place doesn't have the same community as Buy Nothing groups, but it's yet a quick way to connect with locals who want your habiliment. In that location are definitely resellers on hither, but I personally don't mind it, every bit long the wear will ultimately be used.
If you lot want to avoid resellers or people who just desire free stuff, you can always set a depression price to deter them, but even so give the items away when the person comes to pick up.
5. Clothing swaps/inquire your friends
If yous're but tired of your wear, and don't necessarily demand to declutter, organize a vesture bandy with your friends! A lot of social activities are centered around consumerism, merely this is one style to go together and be sustainable.
If you do actually need to downsize your closet, you can still enquire your friends if they want specific items that suit their fashion. Only ask them to be honest with yous well-nigh whether they'll really habiliment something, as some friends may feel pressured to say yes.
six. Adjourn Alerts
One of the easiest means to go rid of clothing and household items is to leave it on the curb. You lot tin leave a "curb alert" on your Buy Nothing group, freecycle.org, or Craigslist, or just leave your stuff outside.
While this requires the least effort, you can't gurantee that you lot'll find someone who volition give your vesture a good home, as people who walk by aren't necessarily going out of their style to become something they truly want/need. All the same, it's a decent option if you don't desire to coordinate pickups.
Just make certain you lot accept responsibleness for anything left behind, and check local guidelines, as some cities fine residents who get out stuff on curbs.
Other Places to Donate Clothes
Some organizations and programs aren't taking donations due to the pandemic, so be sure to double-check before making plans to driblet anything off. This is another reason that giving clothes away straight may be more than effective, equally individuals decide their comfort level in accepting others' clothing. You tin can also do contactless porch pickups when passing your apparel onto individuals.
Some organizations are also overwhelmed with donations, so I always effort to call ahead and see what's needed before dropping anything off.
seven. Schools
Some local public schools may take donations to provide wearable to students in need. They often have "closets" where students tin go and choice what they like.
8. Soles4Souls
Souls4Souls takes gently-used shoes and trains people in poverty to run their ain business reselling the shoes. The goal is empower them with the skills and resource to provide for themselves and increase their living standards.
You tin can find drop-off locations near you, or send the shoes for complimentary.
9. Foster care programs
Kids grow out of clothing quickly, and those in foster intendance oftentimes have very few belongings to begin with. As a result, foster intendance programs oft have free closets to not only help the children, but also the new foster parents—allowing them to spend more money on the enrichment and development of their new family member.
x. LGBTQ+ centers
These centers provide gratis clothing and a safe environs for the LGBTQ+ community. Binders and professional wearable tend to be in high demand.
11. Refugee organizations
Refugees often leave their lives and belongings behind to escape violence in their countries. These organizations not simply provide free clothing to refugees, only also often food, shelter, medical care, legal services, and career advising.
12. Prisons
Former inmates often need professional clothing for interviews when transitioning dorsum to social club. Some prisons may have donations directly. You can also search for nearby orgs that offer free professional clothing to figure out where to donate.
13. Churches
Many churches requite clothes away for free to those in need, or they may have a low-cost austerity shop. Some churches perpetuate harmful ideas, even so, so you lot may desire to research their beliefs before donating.
14. Free clothes banks
Some gratuitous dress banks offer a specific types of clothing. Dress for Success has professional wearable and development to empower women to achieve economic independence. Cinderella's Closet gives away free prom dresses to those who could otherwise not afford to attend prom.
15. Homeless shelters
New socks and underwear are some of the virtually highly sought-later on items in these shelters. Y'all can also give resources away directly to the homeless, but be sure to allow them accept what they need rather than dumping your stuff. Menstrual care products are likewise high-need.
16. Transitional living programs
These programs provide stable housing for homeless youth. They also equip them with the life and professional skills to transition into machismo.
17. Youth emergency shelters
Children and teens tin can get emergency housing and crisis intervention at these shelters. These kids may be experiencing abuse, violence, neglect, poverty, or homelessness.
18. Sober living houses
Those recovering from drug or alcohol addiction can find a safe, supportive, and structured environs in these houses. Many residents may not have a lot of belongings or resources, so clothing donations can brand a big difference. Sober living houses also often demand linens, food, and furniture.
19. Nursing homes
Not every nursing home resident has a caring family member to bring them clothing. Call your local nursing home and see what they may need.
20. Hospitals
Hospitals oftentimes take a free closet for patients who get in with damaged clothing. In other situations, habiliment may need to be cutting off patients to assess injuries, or taken in as evidence for sexual assault cases.
For hygiene purposes, about hospitals will only accept brand new article of clothing with tags. Underwear is in especially high demand.
21. Domestic violence centers
Victims of domestic violence frequently escape with very few, if whatever, holding. These centers normally accept clothing (oftentimes new but) and also need menstrual products, shampoo, deodorant, and other personal intendance items.
22. Animal shelters (towels, blankets, and sheets)
Brute shelters often take clean towels, blankets, and sheets to go on the rescued animals warm. Check with your local rescue center to see what they need.
23. Charity Shops
This is low on the list considering fifty-fifty minor charity shops sometimes trash a lot of items, as in that location's not always space for everything. That said, these shops play an important role in local communities. Boomerangs, for instance, raises coin for HIV/AIDs prevention, care, and research. Out of the Closet likewise supports people living with HIV/AIDs or homelessness.
What to do with Super Ratty Clothes?
Almost organizations merely accept wear in good condition. So what practice yous do with pieces that are falling autonomously? Here are some options:
i. Repurpose as cleaning rags or patches
Rather than ownership paper towels or Swiffer pads, you tin use vesture rags. I also like to use rags for cleaning really gross stuff, like bathtubs, showers, flowers, or toilets. They as well actually come in handy when you're mending quondam dress or trying to stuff pillows (y'all can buy an empty beat or create one from an old shirt).
2. Facebook groups
If you don't need the rags, it's possible that people in your community practise! Plumbers, mechanics, and farmers all use rags in their work. Local artists may be interested in using the textiles for their pieces. EMTs demand to exercise cutting clothing off of dummies. Information technology doesn't injure to post it in Buy Cipher groups, creative person groups, FB Market, or NextDoor to see if anyone is interested.
3. Local textile recycling
Many cities take cloth recycling programs where they may even selection up your clothing.
four. For Days take dorsum bag
For Days has $6-twenty take dorsum bags (affiliate link), depending on the size. For Days is a circular sustainable make that makes sure the dress won't become thrown abroad. All brands of vesture are welcome, in any condition.
v. Knickey underwear recycling
Most recycling programs won't have underwear, but Knickey is a sustainable brand that accepts underwear of all brands, and turns them into insulation.
6. Madewell jeans recycling
Madewell is non the most sustainable or transparent make, but they do have a denim recycling program that turns old jeans into housing insulation. Since jeans are resources-intensive to make, I'd only recommend this if yours are truly falling apart.
7. Nike Reuse-A-Shoe
Nike also isn't a very sustainable brand, but they do take a plan that recycles able-bodied shoes specifically, turning them into sports surfaces like basketball game courts and tracks. Call your local Nike store to brand sure they're participating in the Reuse-A-Shoe plan.
Permit u.s. know if you accept more ideas for places to donate clothes, or means to repurpose textiles!
Yous may too like these posts:
The Gentrification of Thrifting: Is Thrifting + Reselling Upstanding?
9 Common Misconceptions About Sustainable Fashion
Source: https://imperfectidealist.com/where-to-donate-clothes-besides-goodwill/
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