Before you donate clothes using one of those bins ... (Pennsauken: store, receipt)
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I'll usually only use the Salvation Army bin if I only have a few things to drop off. But if we have a lot of stuff, my family will usually go to the Goodwill Store. Then you get a receipt for everything you donated so you can deduct them from your taxes...although I guess some people might say that kinda defeats the purpose of donating them?
I used to drop off my clothes and other items to the Salvation Army until I tried donating a bedroom set. The man on the line asked how old the set was (6 piece, 15 years old, traditional cherry, flawless condition), and then told me it was too old and not worth the effort to come get it. I was really surprised! (have you seen some of the furniture in a Salvation Army store? Filthy, beaten up, and very old).
I put it on Craig's List and got 400 for it. Now? I sell all my old clothes on eBay and make some money clearing out shirts and pants that are too big on me. No more donations to the SA, just to the AmVets.
Disgusting isn't it?
We used to donate to a childrens home charity but stopped when they did the same thing.
The 1st place we donated to was from a local church that helps the local's. I used to bring things neatly in ziplock bags so that small toy pieces didn't get lost. One day I went in and found a lot of the stuff I took time with just thrown in an old toy box.
... read this article. Apparently, some (most?) of those donation bins do not belong to charities that give clothes to the needy, rather, they belong to for-profit corporations (with names that sound like charities) that sell the clothes and pocket the profits.
You know those little boxes next to the cash register where you can donate your spare change for charity? They are actually a business. You can buy these boxes, keep 50% of the money for yourself. The rest goes to the charity and they pay their people. I wonder how much money goes to the people it is suppose to be for anyway.
We have used the bins over in the Newport mall outside of BJ's.
10 minutes after doing it you will see someone diving for them.
I don't know what is worse, people profiting off of donations or others deliberately diving for clothes they too will sell (you don't need 20 pairs of shoes, you know?)
I think you are better waiting for clothing drives or donate to homeless shelters/churches/etc.
What I would like to know is which charities/organizations use/sell/give the needy the clothes themselves and which actually only rip up the clothes to make rags? I would not like my good donated clothes to be ripped up for rags. Also, if I knew which ones ripped up stuff for rags I would give them stained or ripped things instead of putting that in the trash. Right now I am careful to separate things that are damaged from things that are wearable. Then when I heard a lot of donated clothes are ripped into rags, I was like why bother!
What I would like to know is which charities/organizations use/sell/give the needy the clothes themselves and which actually only rip up the clothes to make rags? I would not like my good donated clothes to be ripped up for rags. Also, if I knew which ones ripped up stuff for rags I would give them stained or ripped things instead of putting that in the trash. Right now I am careful to separate things that are damaged from things that are wearable. Then when I heard a lot of donated clothes are ripped into rags, I was like why bother!
Well I have never donated anything that is unwearable.... I know Catholic Charities gives them to the poor here and in other countries. I wouldn't mind if a place like CC sold my stuff and put the money to good use they do wonderful things.
I use LUPUS 1 888 445 8787.
They take just about anything.
Clothing, shoes, bedding items, curtains, housewares, glassware, jewelry, toys, games, knick knacks, small appliances and tools.
OP
Our high school collects many items, including play-sets, car seats, pillows and such for Project Graduation.
If you wish, you may want to contact your local school system and enquire.
Regards
Sligo
Good advice. I live near a large disadvantaged town and give one of the schools there clothing to distribute among the families.
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