In these eco-friendly times, many people just like you are Googling, “Where can I donate clothes?” But before we answer that question, we’ve got some fast facts for you to consider:
- Every year, an estimated 12 million tons of clothing and textiles end up in U.S. landfills
- In one 2011 study, recycling advocates found that fully 90% of the clothes thrown out that year could have been recycled
- The textile recycling industry employs an estimated 17,000 Americans
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that an unacceptable 207,000 veterans were unable to find work in March 2013
Yes, one of these facts is not like the other, we’ll get to that soon.
Where Can I Donate Clothes in State X? 3 Simple Solutions
Well, you could just throw them away, but hopefully we’ve convinced you that’s a bad idea. Every state has a unique constellations of charities, recycling drop sites, and non-profit organizations that accept clothing donations. But in almost all 50 states, you’ll find these options available to you.
Interested in Helping Military Families?
Although enormous strides in ending veteran unemployment have been made so far, there’s still a lot of work to be done in supporting veterans and military families. That’s why there are a growing number of organizations that help military families with local donation pick ups. If you are unable to drop off clothing donations yourself, some of these groups will actually come to you to pick up extra clothes, furniture, diapers, and household goods.
Goodwill, the Salvation Army
Most major cities have either Goodwill Charities or Salvation Armies, some have both. Not all locations accept donations, so call or go online to make sure the location you visit accepts clothing donations. If you see a drop box in public, don’t simply drop off items. Often you need to call to schedule a pick up!
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
Although you don’t get the benefit of knowing you helped needy families or veterans in need, it’s still better than simply throwing unused clothing in the trash. Again, not all recycling centers accept fabrics and textiles, so call ahead before making a drop off.