Donating your children’s clothes can be a very rewarding thing to do. With that said, you do need to make sure that you keep a number of things in mind. To make things easier, we have compiled a guide to help you understand what you can donate and what steps you can take to ensure that they benefit someone who really needs it.
Sort through your Clothes
The first thing you need to do is sort through all of the clothes that you have. Take the time to evaluate each item before it goes into a bag. It’s also a good idea for you to separate each item into clean, gently used, or worn, so you can make sure that you are recycling clothes that are not good for sale. As a general rule, stained, torn, or ripped clothing is not accepted, and neither are wet, musty, or mouldy garments. If you’re not sure, then think about whether or not you’d be happy to give that item to a friend. If you’re not, then it’s probably not a good idea to donate it.
Wash and Clean your Clothes
When you have sorted through your child’s clothes, you then need to wash and clean them. If you can, you need to make sure that the clothing is free from odour, as this means it can then be resold and used to benefit the local community. Avoid donating any clothes that may be damp, as this can lead to mold growth, and it can also reduce the worth of your donation.
Fold and Pack
You then need to fold and pack your clothing before putting them in your donation bag. This helps to stop wrinkles and damage, and it also helps to ensure that our team can go through everything properly. Use a black bin liner or a sturdy box. As you pack your items, it’s probably a wise idea to go through all of the pockets, so you can make sure that there are no important documents, loose change, or anything else that you might not be aware of.
Items You Can Donate
There are a number of items you can donate. If you want to find out what you can donate, then you can pack everything from trousers to joggers, jeans, dungarees, nighties, and even onesies. You can also donate jackets, fleeces, coats, hats, gloves, and scarves. We also welcome things like party wear. A lot of people don’t think about donating things like this, as they tend to be one of the things that you wear just once. With that said, it’s a good idea for you to donate things like this, as they can help a child in need who can’t afford to buy an outfit to go to a party, or who can’t afford to buy something for Halloween. We also accept swimwear, but we do not accept any floatware, due to the risk of safety if there is an issue.
If you have some shoes that you would like to donate, then we will gladly accept them as well. Please make sure that they are clean and washed if appropriate, and then drop them off with us. We will then make sure that they are made available to someone who might need them.
If you would like to drop off clothes with us, we have listed all the drop-off points across Texas, Missouri, and Utah. If your clothes cannot be donated to a local thrift store, then they can still be recycled, so the next time you are sorting through your kids’ clothes, keep that in mind, as it is a great way for you to make a difference not only to your local community but also to the planet.
Reviewing Your Child’s Wardrobe
In addition to sorting, cleaning, and donating your clothes, it’s important for you to consider the season we are currently in. Getting rid of a coat in winter is a great thing to do, especially if your child doesn’t need it anymore. With that said, if you choose to get rid of a coat in summer, although this is still useful, it may mean that local organisations have to keep hold of it for a longer period of time, which can cause issues with stock. Donating warmer clothes in autumn is also a good thing to do, as people often seek out warmer clothes during this time. Regularly donating clothes is a very good thing to do, and if you have strong connections to your local community or school, then it can be a good idea for you to organise a clothing drive.
Consider Hosting a Clothing Drive
Another thing you can do, if you want to help the local community, is host a clothing drive. A clothing drive gives you the opportunity to get people involved, and it also helps you to make sure that you are making a big difference. This will amplify the power of your donation, and it will also help you to make a bigger impact overall. Try and make sure that you know the charities you would like to donate to, and arrange to drop off the clothes that you gather. If you have a substantial amount of clothing to deal with, then it can be a good idea for you to plan ahead of time so you can make sure that it is all washed and sorted accordingly.
It’s greatly appreciated to segment clothes based on age or even clothing type as well, as this will make it easier for the charity receiving the items to sort through them. Getting your kids involved is also a good thing to do, so try and keep that in mind if you can, as it will help you to make a big difference. If you would like to donate, we encourage you to check out our donation page here. When you do, you can then find a drop-off point near you.
