Chances are, you’ve probably heard of the Red Cross. If you haven’t, the American Red Cross is a charitable organization that helps those in need around the clock. This is important because there are many homeless individuals throughout America. During January 2015, 564,708 people were homeless during any given night throughout the United States. You can help solve this problem by providing Red Cross clothing donations. However, it’s understandable to wonder which types of clothing you should consider donating. With that in mind, here are four helpful ways to determine which types of clothing to donate.
- Articles of Clothing You’ve Forgotten About
There’s no doubting that life moves at a fast pace. Therefore, it’s common for many people to purchase articles of clothing and forget about them. Considering that, it’s likely you’ve done the same thing. When you’re ready to begin finding Red cross donations in your home, look for clothes you haven’t worn in the past year. If you haven’t worn these clothes recently, it’s unlikely you’ll wear them anytime soon. - Clothes That Don’t Fit Well
Many people either gain or lose weight as they get older. With that in mind, start looking for clothes in your home that don’t fit properly. Unfortunately, certain individuals assume there’s nothing else to do with clothes but throw them away. Research gathered from the EPA found that Americans throw out almost 10 pounds of clothing per person annually. Unfortunately, this creates a growing problem of clothes ending up in already overcrowded landfills. If you come across clothing that doesn’t fit relatively well, it’s time to donate these items. - Clothing That’s in Bad Condition
It’s understandable to assume that clothing in bad condition won’t make great Red Cross donations. If your clothes are damaged in some way, this doesn’t mean you’re unable to donate them. Many charities will accept damaged clothing, using them as rags and other types of textiles. If you want to make things easier for the charity, place these textiles in their own labeled box or bag. This allows workers to save time and effort while sorting your Red Cross donations. - Out of Style Clothing
In the world of fashion, trends often change. Considering that, it’s likely that you have clothing in your home that’s out of style. This is nothing to be ashamed of, many people are unintentionally holding onto clothes they’ll never wear in public. Instead of keeping these items to yourself, consider donating them to those in need.
In closing, it’s understandable to have a difficult time wondering which types of clothing to donate. Using the previously mentioned tips should help you have an easier time making these decisions. If you’re still on the fence about what to bring to a Red Cross clothing donation center, remember donating items provides you with certain types of tax credits. Your donations are tax deductible, based on the value of what you’re donating. Therefore, it’s wise to obtain a receipt after bringing in your Red Cross donations.