How to Donate Clothes to Charity Without Leaving Home
Turn fall cleaning into an opportunity to give back to the community
The end of summer often evokes a feeling of nostalgia. Your kids will be moving onward and upward in their academic careers. They may be starting a new grade, transitioning from middle to high school or even heading off to college. No matter what, the start of school means that they’re a bit older and a bit different from the way they were last fall.
Of course, this also means that a lot of what your kids wore last year will be too small or too out-of-style to rock at the start of the new school year. So you may be wondering how to donate unwanted garments — or other unused household items — without too much of a hassle, especially if you have a big pile of clothes just waiting for a new home.
That’s where these organizations come in.
Of course, this also means that a lot of what your kids wore last year will be too small or too out-of-style to rock at the start of the new school year. So you may be wondering how to donate unwanted garments — or other unused household items — without too much of a hassle, especially if you have a big pile of clothes just waiting for a new home.
That’s where these organizations come in.
How does it work? Pack a box — any box — with items you wish to donate. Then, print out a free shipping label from the Give Back Box website and attach it to your box.
After that, you can ship the box as you would any other package. You can take it to the post office or to a UPS store, where the package is scanned and tracked to ensure that it safely arrives to the charity. You can also set up a time to have your package picked up from your front doorstep, saving you time and hassle.
For many donors, it’s important to get a receipt for tax write-off purposes, and Give Back Box is aware of this too. The startup will send you an e-receipt, though it’s your job to keep an itemized list of what you sent in so that you can fill in a more detailed report when it’s time to file taxes.
You can also ship off your household goods, though fragile items, liquids or any other potentially hazardous materials aren’t suggested for shipping. The organization also doesn’t have a weight limit on what can be sent.
After that, you can ship the box as you would any other package. You can take it to the post office or to a UPS store, where the package is scanned and tracked to ensure that it safely arrives to the charity. You can also set up a time to have your package picked up from your front doorstep, saving you time and hassle.
For many donors, it’s important to get a receipt for tax write-off purposes, and Give Back Box is aware of this too. The startup will send you an e-receipt, though it’s your job to keep an itemized list of what you sent in so that you can fill in a more detailed report when it’s time to file taxes.
You can also ship off your household goods, though fragile items, liquids or any other potentially hazardous materials aren’t suggested for shipping. The organization also doesn’t have a weight limit on what can be sent.
Minneapolis user’s experience: So far, Samantha Kelley of Minneapolis has donated four or five boxes of clothing and home decor. “It feels great to release items I no longer need, especially if someone else will also be able to get something out of them,” she says. “I know I just feel so much better in my home after I’ve cleared out things that no longer serve me or my household.”
New York user’s experience: “I’ve had huge bags of unused clothes taking up space in my apartment for over a year,” Kristin Cortina says. “Like many New Yorkers, I don’t have a car and live in an area where there is nowhere to donate clothes. I even called charitable organizations to ask if they could come pick up my clothes, and either they had a policy where they would not pick up clothes, or their trucks did not service my ZIP code.”
Then Cortina saw an ad for Give Back Box.
“My favorite parts of the whole process are the absolute ease of use — there are no long forms to fill out, and the site is super easy to navigate — the ability to schedule a free pickup right at my apartment, and the free shipping,” she says. “The whole process from start to finish took only minutes, and the fact that the whole thing is free is icing on the cake. They really make it easy for you to donate.”
New York user’s experience: “I’ve had huge bags of unused clothes taking up space in my apartment for over a year,” Kristin Cortina says. “Like many New Yorkers, I don’t have a car and live in an area where there is nowhere to donate clothes. I even called charitable organizations to ask if they could come pick up my clothes, and either they had a policy where they would not pick up clothes, or their trucks did not service my ZIP code.”
Then Cortina saw an ad for Give Back Box.
“My favorite parts of the whole process are the absolute ease of use — there are no long forms to fill out, and the site is super easy to navigate — the ability to schedule a free pickup right at my apartment, and the free shipping,” she says. “The whole process from start to finish took only minutes, and the fact that the whole thing is free is icing on the cake. They really make it easy for you to donate.”
Why try it? If you have spare boxes and tape lying around already, this will be a completely free venture for you. Plus, you can even save yourself the time and money of driving to a local charity. And a decluttering assistant will definitely come in handy during fall cleaning.
Give Back Box’s partners also find that they get higher-quality donations from people who use the service, as opposed to donations they receive from other means. “The boxes we do receive [from Give Back Box] tend to have higher-quality items,” says Michael Meyer, president and CEO of Goodwill of Monocacy Valley in Maryland. “Hence, we can extract greater value that translates in our ability to serve more individuals with job training and job placement services.”
Give Back Box’s partners also find that they get higher-quality donations from people who use the service, as opposed to donations they receive from other means. “The boxes we do receive [from Give Back Box] tend to have higher-quality items,” says Michael Meyer, president and CEO of Goodwill of Monocacy Valley in Maryland. “Hence, we can extract greater value that translates in our ability to serve more individuals with job training and job placement services.”
The Salvation Army
What is it? The Salvation Army is one of the better-known donation options out there. Aside from clothing, you can also donate furniture and other household goods or even a car.
How does it work? You can get your items to The Salvation Army in one of three ways: Drop it off at a nearby location, schedule a free pickup or send monetary donations.
Why try it? The Salvation Army aims to help underprivileged families and children get the clothing and materials they need. You can feel good about the things you donate here, knowing that they’ll go to people who need them.
What is it? The Salvation Army is one of the better-known donation options out there. Aside from clothing, you can also donate furniture and other household goods or even a car.
How does it work? You can get your items to The Salvation Army in one of three ways: Drop it off at a nearby location, schedule a free pickup or send monetary donations.
Why try it? The Salvation Army aims to help underprivileged families and children get the clothing and materials they need. You can feel good about the things you donate here, knowing that they’ll go to people who need them.
Goodwill
What is it? Goodwill, another well-known option, aims to enhance the quality of life and dignity of those in need of low-cost clothing and supplies.
Although anyone can shop at Goodwill, the organization’s expressed purpose is helping those in need.
How does it work? One common way to donate to Goodwill is to use a donation bin. You’ve likely seen these in retail store parking lots or in other convenient locations around your neighborhood.
However, be aware that not all donation bins are used to help those in need. Some are actually set out by for-profit companies. Check out A Field Guide to Donation Bins, an informational graphic on Goodwill’s website, to learn more.
Why try it? Not only can you feel good about the clothing you drop off in Goodwill donation bins, but you can also schedule a home pickup if you don’t have time to get away from the house.
Just get your items to be donated in order and let the people at Goodwill know that you’re ready for them.
What is it? Goodwill, another well-known option, aims to enhance the quality of life and dignity of those in need of low-cost clothing and supplies.
Although anyone can shop at Goodwill, the organization’s expressed purpose is helping those in need.
How does it work? One common way to donate to Goodwill is to use a donation bin. You’ve likely seen these in retail store parking lots or in other convenient locations around your neighborhood.
However, be aware that not all donation bins are used to help those in need. Some are actually set out by for-profit companies. Check out A Field Guide to Donation Bins, an informational graphic on Goodwill’s website, to learn more.
Why try it? Not only can you feel good about the clothing you drop off in Goodwill donation bins, but you can also schedule a home pickup if you don’t have time to get away from the house.
Just get your items to be donated in order and let the people at Goodwill know that you’re ready for them.
Pickup Please for the Vietnam Veterans of America
What is it? Pickup Please is a donation program specifically seeking to help all American veterans, not just those who served in Vietnam, as its full name implies.
How does it work? Like The Salvation Army and Goodwill, Pickup Please allows you to donate clothing, housewares, books, electronics and many other items.
Just gather your donation items and then schedule a pickup time online. Pickup Please is able to collect items from most areas in as little as 24 hours.
Why try it? The people who benefit from Pickup Please are those who have served their country. If the small action of donating your used items to this organization can help us pay them back, why not do it?
Other Organizations
In your area, you may have other organizations and services that offer donation pickup. Check out Donation Town or PickUpMyDonation.com for local options.
What is it? Pickup Please is a donation program specifically seeking to help all American veterans, not just those who served in Vietnam, as its full name implies.
How does it work? Like The Salvation Army and Goodwill, Pickup Please allows you to donate clothing, housewares, books, electronics and many other items.
Just gather your donation items and then schedule a pickup time online. Pickup Please is able to collect items from most areas in as little as 24 hours.
Why try it? The people who benefit from Pickup Please are those who have served their country. If the small action of donating your used items to this organization can help us pay them back, why not do it?
Other Organizations
In your area, you may have other organizations and services that offer donation pickup. Check out Donation Town or PickUpMyDonation.com for local options.
Fall Cleaning to Help Others
Donating unwanted clothes to people in need means that they will be able to feel the warmth, security and confidence that your clothes once provided you and your family. You may not want the items anymore, but they will mean so much to people who couldn’t otherwise fill a wardrobe on their own. That is the most important reason to clean out your closet this fall and beyond.
Keeping this in mind may make it a bit easier to watch your kids grow up each year, move to a new grade or even set off for college.
More
Downsizing Help: How to Get Rid of Your Extra Stuff
Decluttering Guru: What to Do With 8 Harder-to-Donate Items
Find closet organizing products
Donating unwanted clothes to people in need means that they will be able to feel the warmth, security and confidence that your clothes once provided you and your family. You may not want the items anymore, but they will mean so much to people who couldn’t otherwise fill a wardrobe on their own. That is the most important reason to clean out your closet this fall and beyond.
Keeping this in mind may make it a bit easier to watch your kids grow up each year, move to a new grade or even set off for college.
More
Downsizing Help: How to Get Rid of Your Extra Stuff
Decluttering Guru: What to Do With 8 Harder-to-Donate Items
Find closet organizing products
Give Back Box
What is it? Online shoe store owner Monika Wiela couldn’t have known that a fateful encounter with a homeless Chicagoan in 2012 would change the course of her life forever. The man held up a sign requesting money for new shoes. Because of her line of work, Wiela thought she could help, but by the time she returned with a pair of shoes for him, he was gone.
This got her thinking about how she could help those in need to get shoes, clothes and accessories, and how she could reuse the shoe boxes she knew contributed to the world’s waste.
In 2013, Americans recycled only an estimated 34.3 percent of their waste, so many shoe boxes undoubtedly ended up in landfills rather than recycling centers, where they belonged.
Wiela’s idea burgeoned into the Give Back Box of today, which allows you to fill any box you have on hand with the clothes you no longer want or need, and ship them off to be donated. Those donations are then sent to nearby charities connected to Give Back Box.