How to Request Children's Clothing Donations

Collecting donations gets clothing to children who need them.

After deciding to collect children's clothing for charity, you may be left wondering exactly how to go about it. With a little creativity and organization, the task doesn't have to be a difficult one. Too often, parents have children's clothing just collecting dust because they are too nice to throw out and yet the family doesn't know how to effectively distribute them to someone in need. You can stand in the gap between that desire of people to help and the needs of children.

Instructions

1. Set up donation boxes in areas where families visit during their normal routines. The more convenient the location, the more likely it is that donors will show up. Hosting a drive at your child's school is an example of this idea. Parents will be coming to the school as part of their daily routine, and so having boxes or a table where clothing can be turned in when they bring their kids to school will likely result in a nice quantity of donations.

2. Personally contact friends and family. Within your own circle of friends and family, there are likely several people who have children's clothing that they would gladly donate. Taking it upon yourself to do the leg work can make it easier for busy families who might otherwise not have the time to make donations in another way.

3. Host a donation drive. Print up flyers that announce why the clothing is being collected, where the donations are being collected and any other pertinent details and enticements that might encourage individuals to donate. Circulate the flyers in locations frequented by families and parents who are likely to have unneeded children's clothes.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are setting up donation boxes or posting flyers in schools, churches, or other organizations, obtain permission to do so.

References

• Charity Guide: Organiza a used clothing drive
• A practical guide to obtaining donations from private organizations and companies