A small donation can mean the world to someone.
It’s the primary motivator for people donating to charity day in and day out. Just the act of giving can fill you with a sense of accomplishment that you made someone’s life out there just a little bit easier. Knowing what to donate, however, can be another matter entirely. Should you keep that old desk of yours a little while longer or is it more effective to donate some of your old soup cans? When you want to donate to charity and do as much good as possible in one go, clothing drop off is a fantastic resource for you and that certain someone down the road. It’s environmentally friendly, a good way to save money on your taxes and can even help stimulate the economy.
That’s a lot, isn’t it? Let’s dive in and take a deeper look at why charitable clothing donations are one of the best ways to give back.
Any donation is better than nothing. That doesn’t mean you can’t put forth a little extra effort to make sure yours is touching all bases. Charity organizations are always on the lookout for more clothes to help families in need and stimulate local industries. This means that worn-out pair of jeans you no longer wear or a jacket that no longer fits could help multiple layers of society. The total giving to charitable organizations back in 2014 reached a staggering $355 billion. Could we reach an even higher number with your help?
Let’s start off with the eco-friendly benefits of clothing drop off services. The environment is under a lot of stress lately, with scientists estimated there may be more plastic in the ocean than fish in a matter of decades and outdoor air pollution seeking a spike in recent years. That’s before we get into landfills, one of the most significant environmental hazards in the country. Back in 2006 over two and a half billion pounds of fabric were kept out of landfills thanks to used clothing donations. When landfills create harmful fumes and accumulate bacteria, a little goes a long way indeed.
Despite that impressive figure there is still more work to be done. Americans send over 10 million tons of clothing to landfills each year, despite nearly 100% of household textiles able to be recycled and reused regardless of their quality. That includes cotton, latex, spandex, you name it. It’s estimated Americans recycle just 15% of their used clothing, choosing to throw out the rest, and your charity clothing donations can do wonders to break this harmful cycle. What other benefits can you gain from rounding up your unwanted t-shirts and sweaters?
Clearing out the clutter in your home is a wonderful way to improve your mood. Excess clutter, dirty surroundings and a lack of personal style have all been linked to a rise in depression, irritability and even reduced sleep patterns. Likewise, cleaning out your closet and freeing up more of your living room or bedroom for other furniture can help perk you up every time you come home. The average American today buys twice as many pieces of clothing than they did 20 years ago. What clothes are sitting in your closet and wasting away while you gather more and more clutter?
You can even save money when you call up clothing drop off services. All you have to do is reach out to Purple Heart charity pick up and keep your receipt for your next tax return to save a little green. This is due to the IRS requiring a qualified appraisal to be submitted with your tax return if you donate any single clothing or household item that is either in used condition or better. Men’s overcoats and suits, for example, are worth nearly $60 as a tax write-off due to their high demand. With clothing drop off services? Anything is possible.
What could your local clothing donations do to brighten up everyone’s life?