Our nation was built upon the very concept of unity through diversity; it is this principle that captures the very essence of America as a “melting pot” full of different peoples and cultures that band together in the name of progress. For this reason, Americans need to band together and help one another thrive; this is especially so regarding our armed servicemen and servicewomen that may have a rough time transitioning back to civilian life. Helping our fellow Americans can take many forms; clothing donations for veterans just happens to be one of the easiest ways to give back to those who risked it all for our nation.
The World’s Leader in Waste
America is the global leader in many demographics; unfortunately waste just happens to be one of them as our landfills pile up more each year. It is estimated that the average American citizen throws away around 70 pounds of clothing, linens, and similar textiles each year; in total Americans send 10.5 million tons of clothing to landfills every year. This is so unfortunate, considering that Americans only recycle or donate around 15% of their old or used clothing. When asked, many Americans say that they do not have the availability to give or that they did not believe that their donations would be needed. When it comes to veterans in need, even the smallest contributions could go a long way towards helping military families and families in need.
The Value of Clothing Donations for Veterans and Families in Need
Although together we may be capable of extreme waste, together we are also capable of extreme generosity; each year Americans donate around 4.7 billion pounds of clothing. Charitable organizations say that nearly 100% of household textiles and clothing can be recycled, regardless of condition. In fact, 45% of recycled clothing is worn as secondhand clothing — in 2006 there were 2.5 billion pounds of fabric that were spared from the landfills through used clothing purchases. Clothing donations for veterans and families in need not only helps the community at large, but donating wisely could even benefit the donor in some cases.
Giving in the Right Places
Although there are many organizations that help veterans and local families, smart donors only support groups granted tax-exempt status under section 501 (c) of the Internal Revenue Code. This ensures that your donations are used exclusively to help fund the organization and help families in need. Any single clothing or household item donation that is valued at $500 could help donors receive a sizable tax deductible so long as they have records of this donation and the recipient. It just goes to show, it pays to have a generous heart! To see more, read this.
