Every year, 70% of Americans make some form of contribution to charitable organizations. In addition to donating clothing, household items, and volunteering their time, Americans give an estimated 3% of their income to charity.
Due to the combined efforts of non-profit organizations, an estimated $666.1 billion is contributed to the United States economy on an annual basis. The American National Red Cross is actually ranked as the 13th largest charity in the United States. This ranking is determined by private donations, and in 2014 alone, it received private donations that amounted to $687 million.
As you may be aware, the American Red Cross provides assistance in the form of blankets, blood, food, and shelter. This organization operates 24 hours a day throughout the entire year in order to offer relief for families and entire communities in need.
Are you preparing boxes of clothing for donation? If so, you are making a valuable contribution to the American Red Cross, the community within which you live, and the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that every year, Americans throw away 10 pounds of clothes, on average. Rather than being able to be worn again or recycled, these items end up in the nation’s landfills.
Even though you may be among the many Americans that are motivated to give back to their community by making charitable donations, it’s important to note you can also receive a tax deduction for the items you donate.
If you would like to donate clothes to Red Cross, you can contact GreenDrop for a Red Cross pick-up. In addition to having roughly 30 free-standing locations, GreenDrop also has mobile trailers that can collect your American Red Cross clothing donations.
You can have your items picked up or can deliver them to a Red Cross donation center, whichever is more convenient for you. When you donate clothing at a Red Cross donation center, you will know that the proceeds will contribute to supporting local and nation-wide charitable programs. In 2015, sales proceeds were over $2.5 million, which enabled charitable organizations to make a positive impact on those in need.