Where to Donate Clothes to Make a Difference
Written by Isabel Vasquez RD, LDN
The change of seasons is a time when you break out clothes you haven’t worn in a while. As you do so, you may find that your body has changed since last year and some clothes don’t fit so great anymore.
Weight changes are a normal part of being human. Many of our clients here at Your Latina Nutrition are learning to embrace their bodies as they are, even if they’re at a higher weight than society deems as ideal.
Oftentimes, the process of accepting your body as it is includes letting go of clothes that are too small rather than clinging onto the idea that one day they’ll fit again.
So whether it’s spring cleaning time, your body has changed, or you’re simply ready for a closet reset, you may wonder where to donate your old clothes. There’s no shortage of options, but it’s worth finding places where your donation will go to people in need and not end up in a dumpster.
Read on to learn the 6 best places to donate clothes and a couple of other ideas for what you can do with old clothes.
Where to Donate Clothes
Farmworker Clothing Drives
Farmworkers benefit from having specific protective gear and clothing as they spend hours working outside in the elements. Many times, their families could also use clothing and other donations like food and school supplies.
Some non-profit organizations are dedicated to supporting farmworker communities and accept donations to distribute to families in need.
Some examples are the Center for Farmworker Families in Felton, California, the Migrant Farmworkers Project in Ontario, Canada, and the United Farm Workers Foundation in Central California.
You can also do a google search for “farmworkers clothing donation near me” and see if there are farm workers clothing drives in your area.
Dress for Success
As a global non-profit, Dress for Success’s mission is “to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.”
They offer professional styling appointments for women who have secured a job interview. In this session, a personal shopper helps them pick an appropriate professional outfit for their interview, which they’re given free of charge.
They also receive a career counseling session so they’re prepared to have a successful interview.
Once they get a job, they’re provided with a week’s worth of professional attire to wear on the job.
So if you have professional clothing, shoes, jewelry, scarves, handbags, or coats, Dress for Success could be a good place to donate them.
You can click here to find a branch near you and for their donation guidelines.
Homeless Shelters
Homeless shelters often accept clothing donations that they hand out to residents. Additionally, some places host clothing drives for unhoused folks.
You can google “homeless shelter clothing donations near me” to find local homeless shelters accepting clothing donations. Also keep an eye out for clothing drives near you, which tend to be common in the wintertime.
Make sure to check their donation requirements if they have any specifics listed. Sometimes, homeless shelters may host clothing drives for only specific items like new socks or gently used coats in the wintertime.
Domestic Violence Shelters
Another worthwhile place to donate your clothing is domestic violence shelters. Similar to homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters often accept donations for clothing and more to support residents and their families.
Simply google “domestic violence shelter clothing donations near me” to see if there are any in your area.
Before donating, make sure to check their donation guidelines as they may request specific items and/or clothing sizes. Donating things that aren’t on their list could unnecessarily cause more work for volunteers instead of helping.
Refugee Centers
Finally, look for local refugee centers near you who may be accepting clothing donations. They are often seeking clothing donations to provide to newly arrived refugee families.
One option is to search for a donation center through the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. You can also do a google search for “refugee clothing donation near me” to find smaller, local options.
Loved Ones
You can also consider donating your clothes to loved ones! Maybe a family member or friend would love the sweater you no longer wear.
For a fun night with friends, consider hosting a clothing swap. You can each bring a few items of clothing you’re ready to let go of and have a fashion show trying on and trading clothing items.
Of course, this works best if you’re a similar size as the people you’re doing the swap with, which isn’t always the case.
Also, you may not love the idea of giving clothing you’ve outgrown to family and friends, especially if you’re struggling with body image. Sometimes, seeing someone else wear a piece of clothing that is now too small on you could be upsetting. There’s no shame in that.
Consider one of the other donation ideas on this list!
Other Things To Do With Old Clothes
Repurpose Them
Rather than getting rid of old clothes, you could repurpose them. This requires a level of craftiness, but it could be an opportunity to pick up a new hobby or learn a new skill!
Consider using them to make headbands, coasters, pillows, pouches, pencil cases, sunglass cases, eye pillows, or ornaments. You could also use the fabric for an embroidery project. Old t-shirts also work well as towels to prevent frizz, especially for curly hair.
Sell Them
Especially if you have newer items you don’t want to just give away, consider selling your old clothes. Sites like Poshmark or ThredUp make it easy and convenient to do so. You could also host a yard sale or go to a local consignment shop.
Final Thoughts
We all get rid of clothes from time to time, whether we’ve outgrown them or our closets have simply become too full.
To make the most impact with your clothing donation, consider donating your clothes to farmworkers in need; homeless, refugee, or domestic violence shelters; or Dress for Success. You could also give them to loved ones or repurpose them into pouches or pillows.
For education on how to ADD nutrition to your favorite Latine cultural dishes, make peace with food, and focus on your health without dieting, join our nutrition library for just $27/month.
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