Clothing can convey who we are–consider the grunge t-shirt with a name of a favorite band or that stylish dress for formal occasions. They can have utility, such as a pair of black gloves for winter or a sun hat to shield rays during a day at the beach.
The average American buys at least twice as many pieces of clothing as 20 years ago but that comes at a cost. 10.5 million tons of clothing are sent to landfills every year, and the average American throws away almost 70 pounds of textiles, which include clothing and linens.
Many are trying for a better solution: Turning their used clothes into local clothing donations, which can help individuals and families who may rely on charitable clothing donations for that essential need. Often, these individuals may be veterans.
About 4.7 billion pounds of clothes are donated by Americans each year, but almost 100% of household textiles and clothing can be recycled, no matter their condition. Many donated products are purchased by individuals in developing nations. They buy these used American goods for pennies of their original price. More than 14.3 million tons of donated American textiles and clothes help people and families worldwide.
One of the primary incentives to donating to charity organizations is the option of a tax write-off. The write-off works as a deduction from taxes based on the amount of the donation, which can be monetary or the assessed value of the item, such as clothing. As an example, local clothing donations may include men’s overcoats or suits, which are worth approximately $60 as a tax write-off. A coffee maker can be worth between $4 and $15 as a tax write-off.
A clothing drop off location can include free standing locations or even mobile trailers. Some charity organizations even have a donation pick up option, where the organization comes to you for local clothing donations.
And there is a basic rule of thumb for local clothing donations: If you live in a one to two season climate and haven’t worn an item in 6 months, it’s time to consider donating it.
There are many resources available to find the best charities to donate to and many organizations have a specific group of people they are trying to serve, such as wounded veterans charities. Clothing may go out of style, but helping families in need never does.
