It’s so easy to do, without much thinking. There is a pair of old jeans or a jacket that is a little frayed and worn or a pair of gloves that have lived past their “usefulness.” Instead of going to a donation center, they go into a black plastic bag, put into the trash, and sent out to the dump.
In January 2015, over 550,000 people were homeless on any given night in the United States. And about 15% of the homeless population, which amounts to over 83,000, are considered “chronically homeless” individuals. During the winter, many of those who are homeless struggle with elements. In all seasons, they struggle with finding the money to support themselves even frugally.
70% of people in the United States give to charity each year. Of the high net donors, 63% cite giving back to the community as the reason for their charitable donation or contribution. And that money cycles back into the U.S. economy as well. Over $660 billion is contributed to the U.S. economy from nonprofit organizations.
The American Red Cross is one of the largest charitable organizations in America and affects individuals living in the country as well as those all around the world. It is ranked #13 when it comes to the largest charity according to private donations and received nearly $700 million in donations in 2014.
And their contributions towards the homeless and the financially needy is large. For 24 hours, 365 days per year, they provide relief for individuals and families in the form of blankets, food, blood, and shelter.
It makes the importance of donations even more so. Consider that Americans consume nearly 20 billion garments per year, which is 68 garments and seven pairs of shoes per person, with more than piece of clothing purchased every week. And according to the EPA, the average person throws out 10 pounds of clothing per year.
American Red Cross clothing donations are a great way for people to make an impact just by changing something they do infrequently. American Red Cross clothing donations are received both through in-store locations but also through drop boxes, where someone can just donate the clothes while running errands.
To donate clothes is to provide affordable options for those who could be struggling with financial pressure. They can be in the form of gloves for someone during winter, a sports coat for someone who needs to appear professional for a job interview, or even jeans that are not threadbare and worn.
American Red Cross donations are also tax-deductible, and the same goes for American Red Cross clothing donations. The value of the clothes you donate can be written off on next year’s taxes. When searching for clothes donations, a good avenue is to check out the website of the nonprofit you are donating to for drop off locations.
Some areas even offer a Red Cross clothing pickup.
