What's the best way for me to donate? - YouLookFab Forum

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What's the best way for me to donate?

old chic

My closets are out of control. At least half of what's hanging and stacked on shelves should go, for two main reasons:

I have LOTS of wonderful suits and other business wear that I no longer have any use for, as I am mostly retired and when I do work, I work from home.
I have outgrown a lot of my size 10s and 12s -- and even if I get my weight down again, I doubt that it will arrange itself in the same way as it did before.

I am rather tall (5'8"), and I think there are a lot of younger women out there in the world for whom these clothes are well-proportioned. And I've always run a bit ahead of the fashion curve, so most of these things aren't terribly dated.

I guess what I am saying is that I'd like to give these away to others who could use them rather than throw them in a "rag bin." I see people on this forum mention all the time that they are passing along their no-longer-worn items. So I am turning to you wonderful fabbers to ask what organizations you prefer to donate to.

I have heard of Dress for Success, but I believe they require that you take everything to the dry cleaners before donating it, and I really don't want to incur all that expense. My clothes are mostly still hanging in the closets, and I don't put anything back in that I am not willing to wear again in its current condition. So these are nicely kept, as is. Do you know who would be willing to take them in that way?

General

25 replies

Latest reply was from viva

Minnie

Can you call Dress for Success to see if they take clean, but not dry-cleaned clothing?
We donate all our clothing (and almost everything else) to a thrift store run by our local animal shelter.
Your area may have thrift stores that raise money for different charities that are important to you.
There are people and stores that sell donated items to raise money for children, animals, homeless people, battered women.....

http://eaplthriftshop.com/

Greyscale

Veteran

You might just donate as is, if they're clean enough.

I also found this directory of other organizations similar to Dress for Success. I can't vouch for any of them personally.
http://www.acdnonline.org/locations/

Gigi

Veteran

You could perhaps call some of the local food shelves and ask them where a good place would be to donate the clothes. Many food shelves keep up on such resources for their clients.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I donate clothes in good condition and let them decide if they can sell it or not. If I can wash the item I do that first. Sometimes my things are already in cleaners bags, but not always. If it is pilled, holey, stained, badly creased or must smelling, I throw it away. I'm sure a good proportion of donations need to be thrown away. Whenever I go to our local charity thrift store, I see them throwing away the most ratty things. I think it's just easier for people to let them decide, which they are willing to do as they sort through all of the donations.

So what I"m suggesting is to give them to any charity you like, they are used to sorting the clothing, they know what they are doing. Don't worry about dry cleaning or giving everything to Dress for Success.

Zibbets

Veteran

Where I live, there are several locally owned resale shops that take donations and turn the profits into interest-free loans for higher education. I would think there might be a similar organization near you that would love to have your clothes.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Dress for Success will give you a tax receipt.
Also think about this, even if someone needs business clothes for interviews, jobs etc. it's humbling enough to realize that you have to go to a charity to get clothes, but you still don't deserve clean clothes.
Yes I donated a suit to Dress for Success & yes I paid for dry cleaning

old chic

Thanks, all, for the good suggestions. I hope I can get myself together and get this done in the near future. The clothes I do wear now would love some breathing room.

Annagybe, I do understand and agree with what you're saying about Dress for Success. I guiltily admit that, in addition to being cheap about dry cleaning so much stuff, I am too lazy to go through the process of getting it together, going to the dry cleaners, picking it up, and then carting it to the nearest Dress for Success, which is a hike.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Gonna be blunt. So you want to help "a lot younger women out there in the world for whom these clothes are well-proportioned", but don't want to be inconvenienced.
Ok then.
ETA You can use Task Rabbit & hire someone to do it for you.
Charities of all stripes do not have the time or funds to clean donated items.

Laurel

Finding the "right" home for items that are no longer useful can be such a stumbling block for me, and I have to remember the adage of not letting "perfect be the enemy of good". Obviously if your clothing is soiled or has an odor/fragrance you wouldn't want to donate them---but if they are clean, I would donate them to a thrift store (and I recommend smaller ones, not the "warehouse" types that may send them to the rag bin). I donated my clothing to the American Cancer Society thrift store until it closed, and then I shifted to a thrift shop which benefits a local childrens home. A strategy that I use is to tell myself that the clothing is helping no one in my closet, and once it is "out there" in the world, the possibility goes WAY UP that the "right" person will be able to use it. It's not a PERFECT solution (that idealized dream that the young striving woman who is just your size, and is in need, and would love to have your clothing is matched with your clothing!), but it works.

Mochi

Veteran

I have to say that if it were one item, what you're saying might have more bearing, Anna. But I totally get not wanting to go through the considerable expense of dry cleaning multiple items. (Disclaimer that I just paid $13 to dry clean one stupid ordinary dress--which I'm not giving away.).

old chic

Annagybe, you're right, I am not being altruistic about this. My primary motive is to get rid of what's not appropriate for me anymore with as little hassle as possible. If it's a big production at all, I simply won't get it done.

Easiest of all would be to just toss bags and bags in the rag bin outside my local supermarket. I have been contemplating doing just that. But it seems a shame, since I do think these things are still quite nice and would be suitable for someone else to wear and love. It sounds as though a charity thrift shop is the place for the things that are in excellent, wearable condition.

Gigi

Veteran

Old Chic, if you still want to donate to Dress for Success but there is too much hassle associated with it, maybe they would take the clothes if you also made a donation to cover the cost of the dry cleaning, if they would be willing to actually take the clothes to the cleaners for you.

I used to work for a nonprofit that sent humanitarian goods overseas. Many people were happy to donate their no-longer-worn clothing and such, but they had no idea that the cost of shipping the stuff was astronomical. So we suggested that they donate $5 for shipping for every bag of donated goods. I'm wondering if a similar model would help in this case.

Keix

Veteran

I get what Anna is saying but I also think that there's a wide range of possibilities between a rag bin and Dress for Success. You have admitted that your primary goal is not altruistic, so then there's no shame in not wanting to spend time and energy on the best possible outcome for the clothes. Settle for "good enough."

I like to donate my nicer things to Goodwill because I always hear about people discovering brand-name gems in their local Goodwill shop. Someone had to have donated those things first!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I would normally recommend selling to ThredUp (and then donating the money you get if you want), because it's so easy, but apparently they've gotten so backed up they're not sending out seller bags right now.

In my area there are local charities that periodically have curbside pickup in neighborhoods, which is ridiculously low effort on my part. That's what I do with anything I know ThredUp won't want.

My primary goal isn't charitable, tbh - I'm trying to keep items useable and out of the waste stream for as long as possible. If that means a few people make a profit along the way, even if it's not me, I'm fine with that. In my area the 'for profit' (usually in concert with a charitable organization, so it's not really) thrift stores and consignment are much better run than the traditional charity shops, with a couple notable exceptions.

rebekahphoto

Veteran

You might check with a local church or mission/meals organization. Here in Seattle I often donate clothing to Mary's Place, which is a shelter for women that serves meals and provides support. Perhaps there is a similar organization near you:
http://www.marysplaceseattle.o.....our-stuff/

On the Dress for Success website, it says they accept clothes freshly laundered /or drycleaned. So I imagine if your clothing is clean/pressed and on hangars they would be fine to donate.

rebekahphoto

Veteran

double post

Tammyb

We donate to Vietnam Vets or Lupus Foundqtion. We live in a densely populated area and they pick up the items from our front porch. There is also a food panty that we can bring items to. And, finally, I participate in a Recycle group in Yahoo Groups and sometimes donate there.

Susie

Veteran

There is a thrift shop in my area called Shop My Closet. The owner does mission work and she uses the profits to assist women's organizations overseas. She also provides free clothing to local women in need, like those recently released from jail or rehab.

I used to sell to Twice or Clothes Mentor but I would take in hundreds-maybe thousands- of dollars of clothing and get a hundred bucks; it wasn't worth it. I feel so much better about donating them.

Laurel

I'm still thinking about this! Probably because I recognize some thorny issues that I have encountered as well---and I realized that sometimes I fall into that "all or nothing" way of thinking. Maybe you do, too, Old Chic, and that may be tripping you up. I was thinking about a particular suit that I have which is absolutely fantastic: it's HUGO BOSS, and when it fit me (it no longer does. Also a size 12, which I no longer am) I felt like a million bucks in it. It made me feel beautiful and it made me feel invincible, and if I ever donate it, I would want it to go to a size 12 woman who would feel beautiful and invincible and maybe LUCKY to have such a fine garment. I felt that way. But, all my "nice" clothes aren't the same--some are ordinary, and I wouldn't want to dry clean them before donating them, either. So, what I was thinking was--if Dress for Success is in your area, and you have one or two REALLY FANTASTIC SUITS that a woman in need could really benefit from, maybe you commit to dry cleaning one or two things and give them to DfS... I think you might get a huge boomerang of good feelings for doing that. Then, the more ordinary "nice clothes" could go to a different charity shop, or thrift store, or mission, or church, or whatever. It doesn't have to be "all or nothing", it doesn't have to be loads and loads to one spot. Make it easy on yourself, and find the way that works best for you. Maybe even enlist a friend to make the run with you---spread the love. Best of luck, you've given me a lot to think about!

columbine(erin)

Veteran

I have not read the replies, but if no one mentioned Freecycle, you might look up if you have a local group. You make an offer of your items, and if someone responds, you can correspond with that person so they can come get it from your porch or other meeting spot. I've given away a lot if things this way and once received a sewing machine someone didn't want. It's been a neat group to be part of. I often see requests for clothing appropriate for interviews in my group.

JAileen

Veteran

I donate everything to a thriftstore associated with a nonprofit I belong to. We give everyone a donation slip for their taxes. Stuff that is worn but not dry cleaned we sell unless it's really dirty, then we pass it along to an organization that gives out clothes rather than tries to sell it. We launder swim suits and underwear. We have people come in to buy interview clothes, too.

Mauvish

I would recommend freecycle.org too.
You will have to make account and become member of your local area and it takes one or two days.

People who are looking for similar stuff come and pick up ( from porch or pre decided public place)

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I suggest finding a charity shop that looks organized and supports a charity you like. An organized charity shop can distinguish better clothes from worse and charge more for them (speaking as a sorter in a charity shop).

Roxanna

Veteran

@oldchic I totally hear you. I have lots of like-new clothes I need to get rid of but if I had to dry clean and then cart them over to Dress for Success, it wouldn't happen. And I work for a charity, for God's sake. Don't feel guilty; getting it done is sometimes more important than how you do it.

I am thinking of taking my nicer stuff to an organization here that helps resettle Syrian refugees. That way at least I know that the clothes are being used and helping a cause I care a lot about.

viva

Veteran

I completely understand the desire to help but the challenge of making the time and effort involved work for you. It is a balancing act and a personal decision, and only you can do the calculation. I did donate to Dress for Success once and it made me feel great, and I was honored to help other women. But it was an hour drive, and the dry cleaning thing, and I never did it again. Maybe I'm selfish; I do know that I'm busy. Anyway, I still donate clothing (very small amount of mine, mostly DH's and DD's), but usually to Goodwill.

I love the very targeted mission of Dress for Success though, and since your clothing seems so well aligned with that, if it is conveniently located, I might call (as several have suggested) and ask if they would take clean but not cleaned suits/professional clothing that is current. Know if you are willing to make an additional donation to cover the cleaning, which seems like a great idea if you want to do that. If they turn you down, and they may, and there is not another similar organization close by, I would suggest Goodwill. I think a wide variety of people shop at Goodwill, from resellers (what can you do?) to professionals on a limited budget (who would be thrilled at your finds) to very low income people who would be amazed to come across your cast-offs. Either way, you are helping people.