8 Best Charities to Donate Clothes | Full List with Details
Have you ever taken a minute to consider the number of clothes you have in your closet? Chances are, you have more than enough to last a lifetime. Yet, every year, millions of people worldwide desperately need clothing.
From homeless individuals to families struggling to make ends meet, your unwanted clothing could make a world of difference to someone in need. But with so many charities and organizations to choose from, how do you know where to donate?
In this blog post, we’ll be exploring the best charities to donate clothes too so you can make a meaningful impact on someone’s life and declutter your closet at the same time. Get ready to change the world, one piece of clothing at a time.
Here are the 8 Best Charities to Donate Clothes to:
1. Goodwill Industries
First up, we have Goodwill Industries. They aim to help people with barriers to employment to find jobs, improve their skills, and build their careers. One way that Goodwill helps people who need clothes is by accepting donations of gently used clothing, shoes, and accessories, which they then sell at their thrift stores.
The revenue generated from the sales of these items is used to fund job training programs, employment placement services, and other community-based programs. Goodwill also provides vouchers to individuals in need, which they can use to purchase clothing and other items at Goodwill stores at a reduced cost or for free. Off to a perfect start; the charity has a 100% rating on Charity Navigator with 4 stars.
2. The Salvation Army
They are a Christian-based nonprofit organization that provides various services to people in need, including those who need clothes. They accept gently used clothing, shoes, and accessories donations at their thrift stores and donation centers and distribute these items to needy people. Some Salvation Army locations offer free clothing programs to individuals and families in need. These programs may provide a set amount of clothing items per person or family, depending on availability.
To mention their special program- during the winter months, The Salvation Army may provide warm clothing and blankets to individuals and families in need through their annual “Coats for Kids” and “Bundle-Up” programs. Salvation Army has a 100% score on Charity Navigator as well with 4 star ratings.
3. Dress for Success
Next up is Dress for Success. They provide professional attire for job interviews and work, including business suits, dresses, and accessories. These items are donated by individuals and corporations and are distributed to clients at no cost. They also aim to build the confidence and self-esteem of their clients by providing a supportive and empowering environment.
They’ve supported over 1.2 million women since inception.
Overall, Dress for Success aims to help women achieve economic independence by providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed in the workforce.
By providing professional attire and career development services, Dress for Success helps women overcome barriers to employment and build brighter futures for themselves and their families. This charity also has an astounding 4 stars on Charity Navigator with a 100% score.
4. Soles4Souls
Then we have Soles4Souls, a nonprofit organization that collects and distributes new and gently used shoes and clothing to people in need in the United States and worldwide. They accept donations of shoes and clothing from individuals and organizations across the United States and then distribute them to people in need, including those who may not be able to afford to clothe.
Soles4Souls is dedicated to fighting poverty through the distribution of shoes and clothing. Since 2006, they’ve distributed over 35 million pairs of shoes in 129 countries. They transform unwanted shoes and clothing into opportunity and relief for those in need.
Soles4Souls operates micro-enterprise programs in impoverished areas worldwide, providing people with the resources they need to start their own businesses selling shoes and clothing. By supporting these small businesses, they aim to help people achieve greater economic stability and potentially make it easier to afford clothing and other necessities. As per Charity Navigator, the organization has a 4/4 star rating at 98%.
5. One Warm Coat
One Warm Coat is a charitable organization that organizes and promotes coat drives across the United States, encouraging individuals, businesses, and organizations to collect and donate coats for needy people. These coats are then distributed to people in need through local partner organizations. They have partnered with various community organizations, including homeless shelters, schools, and faith-based organizations, to distribute coats to needy people.
One Warm Coat aims to provide free coats to individuals in need. Since its inception, they’ve facilitated the distribution of over 6.6 million coats. They offer a community-friendly model, allowing anyone to host a coat drive.
By working with local partner organizations, promoting environmental sustainability, and advocating for change, the organization aims to help people achieve greater economic stability and potentially make it easier to afford clothing and other necessities over time. For the icing on top, they have a 100% score on Charity Navigator with 4 gold stars.
6. Career Gear
Career Gear provides professional clothing, mentoring, and job-readiness programs to help men who struggle with low income and unemployment or are returning from incarceration achieve economic independence.
They help the men out with professional clothing, including suits, shirts, ties, and shoes, to wear to job interviews and other professional settings. By providing these items, the organization aims to help men make a good impression and increase their chances of finding employment.
Additionally, they offer job-readiness programs, including workshops on resume writing, interview skills, and workplace etiquette, to help men prepare for the job market.
By providing these programs, the organization aims to help men gain the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the workplace. As on Guidestar, the charity has a silver transparency seal.
7. Planet Aid
It is a nonprofit organization that collects donated clothes and shoes to support sustainable development programs in developing countries. They operate a network of donation bins in communities across the US. Donors can drop off their gently used clothing and shoes in these bins at any time, and the items are collected regularly by the charity.
They’ve collected thousands of tons of clothes, diverting them from landfills and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Their clothing collection helps fund sustainable development projects globally.
They are committed to promoting environmental sustainability. Clothing unsuitable for distribution is recycled into new products, such as insulation or wiping rags.
By partnering with local organizations in developing countries, Planet Aid helps to ensure that donated clothing is distributed in a way that is culturally sensitive and promotes economic development. They have 82% on Charity Navigator with 3/4 stars.
8. The Arc
It is a national nonprofit organization that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Many of The Arc’s local chapters operate thrift stores where people can donate clothing and other items. These thrift stores then sell the donated clothing cheaply to people in need.
In addition to providing affordable clothing, some local chapters of The Arc also offer clothing assistance programs for individuals and families experiencing financial hardship.
Some programs offered by The Arc include:
- Advocacy Services
- Family Support
- Employment Programs
- Community-Based Programs
These programs aim to support and empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in various aspects of their lives.
These programs may provide free clothing, vouchers for clothing, or assistance with purchasing clothing for job interviews or other special events. They have received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator with a 100% score!
Benefits of Cloth Donation to Charities:
- Community Support: Clothing donations aid in furnishing essential items to individuals or families in economic hardship, nurturing a culture of solidarity and support within communities.
- Environmental Sustainability: Donating clothes for reuse helps in reducing textile waste, conserving resources that would have been used to manufacture new clothing, and diminishing the load on landfills.
- Economic Relief: By providing clothing at no cost or at significantly reduced prices, charities offer financial relief to individuals, helping them allocate their resources to other essential needs.
- Education and Awareness: Through donation drives, charities educate the public on poverty, sustainability, and the significance of community engagement, fostering a more empathetic society.
- Empowerment: Charities supplying professional attire play a crucial role in empowering individuals by enhancing their confidence and prospects during job interviews, aiding in their pursuit of economic self-sufficiency.
- Support for Broader Initiatives: Revenue generated from the sale of donated clothes often supports other charitable programs such as job training, education, or health services, thereby extending the impact of the initial donation.
Final Thoughts
As we conclude this discussion on the best charities to donate clothes to, it’s important to remember that our actions have a ripple effect. When we donate our gently used clothing to those in need, we’re not only providing tangible support but also showing our solidarity and empathy for those facing difficult circumstances. It’s a small but impactful way to contribute to society and make a positive difference.
Moreover, it’s crucial to acknowledge that our responsibility towards ethical and sustainable fashion doesn’t end with donating clothes. We should minimize our consumption and waste and invest in timeless, quality pieces that can withstand the test of time. This approach benefits not only the environment but also our pockets in the long run.
In the end, our approach to clothing should be one of conscious and intentional consumption. By donating our clothes to the best charities and making a conscious effort to reduce our waste, we can contribute to a better world and set an example for others to follow. Let’s choose to make a difference, one piece of clothing at a time.
