Widespread global hardship has substantially increased demand for clothing donations; however current clothing donations do not meet demands and donated supplies continue to diminish. Currently, nearly 36 million Americans live in poverty and 7 million are homeless (Hopkins, 2004). These numbers are rising. Worldwide, millions of people spend a majority of income on food and housing, leaving a very small percentage for cloths. No matter if you live in an urban, suburban, or a rural community, chances are that there are people around you in need. However, this is a problem that most of us can help alleviate.

Low-income families or the homeless need all types of clothes, particularly warm clothing and coats for cold weather, formal clothes to attend job interviews, and shoes, which frequently wear-out. If you no longer have use for an item, remember that one person's trash is another person's treasure. Instead of sending unwanted items to landfills, why not offer hand-me-downs to friends, neighbors, or the needy. But, not just in the wake of a tornado, a hurricane, or a flood, when most well-intentioned people from all over the country make used clothing donations. Charities cannot often store these extreme donations and bulk amounts of clothing donations are thrown away. “Some volunteers claim that clothing donations are like feeding the homeless on Thanksgiving: organizations get uncontrollably swarmed one day, and for the rest of the year need to scramble using the woefully limited resources at their disposal” (The problem, 2004). So, it is important to give, and give all year long.

Without protection from the elements, thousands of needy children and adults worldwide are vulnerable to disease and infection. Some have only tattered rags or even no clothes to wear. They are ashamed of the way they look and often lacking self-confidence. A lack of clean, well-fitting clothes and shoes causes great hardship beyond exposure to the elements; it hurts one's self-image and one's chance to get ahead (Salvation Army, 2005). On job interviews, a poorly dressed person has little chance for getting the job; unfortunately they are usually unable to purchase new clothing. By giving your used clothes to those in need, they will be able to present themselves more confidently and professionally. It also promotes self-sufficiency and independence of welfare recipients and low-income men and women as they entry into the workplace. To assist the needy you can also donate your clothing to the Salvation Army or Goodwill.

When you donate clothes, furniture and household items to The Salvation Army, your used goods are sold at one of local Salvation Army thrift stores. The income raised through the sale of these items provides the source for the thrift store’s residential substance abuse program. Participants in the program repair and refurbish used donated goods, and then stock, shelve and sell the items at one of the area thrift stores. The Salvation Army has over 1,500 thrifts stores and charity shops worldwide (Salvation Army, 2004).

Goodwill industries have 1,900 community-based retail locations (Goodwill, 2005). They sell donated goods in their thrift stores, boutiques, and through online sales. Goodwill volunteers and staff transform donated goods into saleable merchandise by sorting, pricing and displaying them in clean and organized manner. They also receive funding and donations from corporations and government grants. Their sold revenues go to serving people with disabilities and other workplace barriers by providing job training and employment services, as well as job placement opportunities and employment support (Goodwill, 2005). Nearly 85 percent of their revenues go to job training, placement programs, and other community services (2005). They provide contract labor services to business and the government. Goodwill is located throughout the United States, Canada and 23 other countries such as Australia, Japan, China, Philippines, Malaysia, India, Egypt and several European countries (2005).

References

Goodwill. (2005) Retrieved Feburary 24, 2005, from

Hopkins, Andrea. (2004). Nearly thirty-six million Americans are living in poverty.

Reuters Limited. Retrieved February 24, 2005, from

Salvation Army. (2004) Retrieved February 24, 2005, from

The problem with clothing donations. (2004). InfoSearch Media. Retrieved April 8, 2005,

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