Where Can I Donate Clothes? A Guide to Giving Back to Your Community

Making charitable donations is one of the most rewarding things you can do in life. However, when it comes to actually taking the first step in getting their gently used clothing into the hands of someone who needs it, many people simply don’t know where to begin.

A typical American household discards about 68 pounds of used clothing each year, so there is a good chance you have something in mind right now that you could donate. The most common question of people looking to donate is simple: “where can I donate clothes?”. The good news is that there is no shortage of charitable organizations in your community that will accept your donations and get them to people in need. Here are the answers to three questions about donating that you may be asking yourself:

Where can I donate clothes? Your local place of worship is a great place to start, but there are charitable organizations all across the country that will accept anything you can give. Non-profit organizations that give your clothing directly to the families who need it the most are the best options for donating.

Who receives my donations? About 80% of donated clothing goes directly to those in need, which the remainder used for funding the organizations. Unemployment is higher than ever and there are millions of Americans down on their luck who can’t even afford to buy their children a jacket in the winter. Your clothing donations help families make it through tough times and survive another day.

I’m always busy…or maybe just lazy. Can I still donate? The answer to this question is an unequivocal “yes”. There is a plethora of organizations that pick up donations in your area and you don’t even have to be at your home to do it. Simply leave a box of donations on the porch, schedule a pickup time, and somebody will come to retrieve it. It’s the perfect way to give back to the less fortunate, free of charge and effort.

Donating clothes is the easiest way to have a real, meaningful impact on your community. Do your part in combating homelessness and get those old shirts from the back of your closet to the back of a deserving, less fortunate member of your community.