Most of us know what it’s like to be cold – especially if you live in the North. Winter can be brutal and even though you try your best to bundle up, you still get the chills. Now imagine it’s a cold, New England night and you don’t even have a winter jacket for when you must go outside. This is the unfortunate reality for some people.
The good news is: you can help. By donating your old clothing, you can help people in need.
Why should you donate?
- Donating clothes to charity is one of the easiest ways to help out other people. You can provide clothing for the disadvantaged and support charitable organizations simply by getting rid of a coat you haven’t worn for three years.
- On average, American families throw out almost 70 pounds of clothes per year. More than 95% of this clothing could have been recycled.
- There are many charities that will happily collect donations from your doorstep, so you won’t need to leave your home and brave the cold weather. Just call up a participating charity and let them know you have bags to donate.
Who benefits from your clothing donations?
- Homeless People: Many charities run homeless shelters, which give individuals living on the street a warm bed and shelter in their lives.
- Veterans: Did you know that almost 25% of homeless people are U.S. veterans? There are many charities that help support military families by lending assistance to veterans who are struggling to make ends meet as the result of disability, hiring discrimination, etc.
- Blind and Visually Impaired Individuals: There are organizations that raise funds through clothing sales in order to develop new technology and training programs that help blind individuals (including those who are losing their vision) so that they can remain both successful and independent in life.
When you give people access to clothes, you give them more than a protection from the cold. You give them the ability to socialize, express themselves, and feel dignified.
Find a homeless shelter near your by clicking here!
P.S. Don’t forget about our furry friends … animal shelters also take donations!