How to Donate Clothing to the Homeless in Chicago, Illinois
According to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, during the 2009-2010 school year, 88,923 Chicagoans were homeless, up nearly 20 percent from the prior year. You want to help, but you don't know where to start. If you have some extra clothing -- maybe you lost weight or gained a few extra pounds, or you really don't need all the clothes you own -- you can help Chicago's homeless by donating your unwanted clothing to a Chicago homeless shelter.
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Instructions
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Go to an online directory of Chicago homeless shelters such as the Homeless Shelter Directory or Warm Wishes (see Resources) to identify individual shelters in Chicago.
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Choose a shelter. Some homeless shelters only assist men, victims of domestic violence, or families with children. Others are operated by religious organizations. Choose a shelter whose mission and goals you feel comfortable with and want to support. You will probably have to bring your clothing to the shelter, so consider whether its location is convenient to your home or work place.
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Telephone the shelter to determine whether it is currently accepting clothing. A shelter with a steady supply of clothing might need cash instead of clothes. Needs change with the seasons and flow of donations. Think about the population it serves before you donate clothing. Ask about specific items of clothing. In 2010 the Lincoln Park Community Shelter posted a need on its website for new men's dress socks, black or tan only, and only plus-size clothing for men or women. In 2010, The Franciscan Outreach Association needed only socks and underwear for men and women.
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Clean and repair your clothing. Wash or dry clean clothing before donating it. If a shirt button is loose, sew it on tight. If a pants' zipper is broken and can't be repaired, don't donate the trousers. There's no accounting for taste, but if it's hopelessly out of style, reconsider. Someone might wear your clothing to a job interview, so think about the impression he will make on a prospective employer.
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Bring your clothing to the shelter. If you need a donation form for tax purposes, ask for one. If the shelter staff doesn't put a value on the items you donated, go to Goodwill's online Donation Value Guide (see Resources) for assistance.
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References
Resources
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