About Donating Clothing
Many of us purchase clothes that we quickly get bored with or perhaps never even wear. Too often, perfectly usable clothing is discarded. Donating clothing has been popular for many years as a way to avoid this needless waste, and at the same time helping non-profit organizations.
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Function
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Donating clothes allows you to keep perfectly good items from going to the landfill, creating a more environmentally sustainable way to get the most life out of every garment. Donating clothing also helps raise money for good causes. For example, when unwanted clothes are sold in charity shops. Most charity shops will sell the clothes rather than simply give them away; this helps raise money for their cause and provides buyers clothing bargains.
Misconceptions
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Often it is assumed that donated clothes will be given free to those in third world countries or the very poor who cannot afford clothes. However, usually charities will sell the clothes themselves in a store or they may be transported and sold in other countries at a very low price. Other clothes can be recycled as rags, furniture stuffing and the like.
Many people are put off donating clothing because they may not necessarily be sent to those who need them, yet whatever happens to the clothes you can be sure they are being used in the best way possible to raise money for the poor. -
Types
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The easiest way to donate clothing is at a clothing bin, commonly found at supermarkets and other popular areas. You can also choose a local charity shop in which to donate your clothes, usually dropping them off yourself in a suitable container (such as a bin liner) allowing you to choose a specific cause you believe in to benefit from your donation. However, there are also a number of websites for donating and exchange of clothing, so find a method that suits you best.
Geography
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If you want to donate clothing then there will be way to do so in your local area. You can take a walk along your town's or city's main street and find a number of charity shops, all accepting second-hand clothing donations. Donations may also be arranged by local organizations such as churches where you can simply bring along your clothes on a given day. There are hundreds of facilities in place across the country.
Expert Insight
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After working in a charity shop and sorting through donated clothing, there are several points I would recommend to anybody looking to donate. Firstly, you can donate clothes that are in poor condition. Alhough these clothes may not be resold, the materials will always be recycled so it is a much better option than throwing them away. Secondly, if you have anything very valuable it may be useful to take it to a shop and let them know rather than leaving it outside or in a clothing bin and risking damage; help make sure the shop gets the best possible use out of your clothing.
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