The Holidays are ApproachingHave You Donated Yet?

The holiday season will be here before you know it, and the giving spirit is already in full swing. While your friends and family are sure to receive some stellar gifts, have you considered how the less fortunate experience their holidays?

Donating clothing to charity is extremely easy, free, and a rewarding experience that will make your holiday season even better. More importantly, you’ll be helping families in need who want nothing more than to have gifts to give their loved ones during this special time of the year.

Teach your children a valuable lesson. It’s important to instill the values of charity and goodwill in children at a young age. Your children look up to you, and there is no better gift you can give them this holiday season than the gift of giving. As an added bonus, going through the house and collecting all your charitable donations is a fun activity that will allow you to spend more time with your kids.

Give back to your neighbors. It’s often the people you would least expect that need your donations the most. In 2013 alone, over 13 million Americans had their identities stolen, and many did not have the means to purchase gifts for friends and family. By donating clothing to charity, you provide these families with a sense of normalcy and the ability to exchange gifts with their loved ones.

Clear out old junk in your home. Nobody likes a hoarder, and almost everybody has tons of clothes in their closet that they just don’t wear anymore. In 2011, the recovery rate for used clothing and textiles was a paltry 15.3% in the U.S., which means Americans threw out about 85% of their clothing. While we’ve gotten better since then, textile waste is still extremely high, and most of this clothing can be re-purposed and given to the less fortunate.

In 2015, there are tons of ways to get involved in donating, and there are even some charities that will pick up donations directly from your home. Donating clothing to charity is fun, easy, and the most rewarding feeling in the world. Go through your old clothing and pick out some stuff to give back to your community this holiday season.