Why Clothing Donations are Essential to Charities

Used clothing pick up

Charities give all of us a chance to put others before ourselves, but not everyone has the money available to make donations. Thankfully, there are organizations devoted to the collection and distribution of gently used clothing to help those in need. Here are all of the reasons you would ever need to consider giving those old garments as charitable donations that are helping families in need.

Recycling
Of all the clothing that was discarded in landfills in 2011, around 90% of the items could have been recycled or donated. Americans waste 12 million tons of clothing and textiles per year and donate around 2 million tons of clothing to charities every year. Those who shop for second-hand merchandise often buys up to 10 pounds of used clothing every year. Clothing that is thrown away because it is too small or not enjoyed by the owner ought to be given to a charity rather than discarded, as charities can never have enough clothing and goods to go around year-round.

Helping Those In Need
Unemployment rates are at all-time highs in the United States, especially for military veterans who have an unemployment rate of 9.9% as of 2012. An additional 27% of military families have over $10,000 in credit card debt, meaning that families have to budget in order to get by. Used clothing retail shops are able to offer low prices to families while many keep their non-profit philosophies to ensure that the business is able to maintain itself. Surprisingly, the reason why many Americans do not donate clothing is due to the fact that many find charity drop-off locations inconvenient. There are many charities that will pick up donations at your home. Thanks to charities that will pick up donations, every American can help to give back to their communities by helping families in need.

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