Cleaning out the closet can be boring, but it can bring a lot of good. When you need to refresh your wardrobe, it’s best to get rid of the clothes that you no longer need. Giving those old clothes to charity is a much better idea than throwing them away. Here are 9 reasons why you should donate old clothes to charity:
1. It’s good for the environment
A lot of unused clothes end up in a landfill, and they release toxic gases into the environment once they break down. In addition, it takes gallons of water to make new clothes. Production of textiles is also responsible for carbon emissions, 10% of all of them in fact. One of the reasons why you should donate old clothes to charity is that it helps prevent all this damage to our planet.
2. It helps those in need
Maybe you don’t want the clothes that have been sitting in your closet, but someone else surely will. A lot of people need usable clothing, especially underprivileged people and disaster victims, as well as children. Your donation can help some of them, and you’re wasting a chance to help someone in need when you throw away your old clothes.
3. You can pick the charity to give to
Many people get emotionally attached to their clothes and want them to end up in the right hands. There’s nothing wrong with that, and you can choose to which charity your dress or coat will go to. Maybe you would like to help someone look better on a job interview, or you’d like to help someone whose home got destroyed have nice things again. Choose whichever charity you want to and know that your clothes will be loved again.
4. Your clothes will be a part of new memories
Perhaps your suit is no longer of use to you, but someone else would cherish it. Maybe you got your biggest client when you were wearing that suit and now someone else is going to wear it when they get a job. Your clothes are getting a chance to live again because someone else will use them to create memories. It’s much better for your clothes to be used again than to lay at the bottom of your closet forgotten. This is just one of the reasons why you should give to charity and there’s more to come.
5. It declutters your home
When you’re cleaning out your closet, you should get rid of anything that you no longer wear. Even if you see something that you used to like, ask yourself when was the last time you wore it. If you can’t remember, consider whether you need it. One of the reasons why you should donate old clothes to charity is to declutter your home. Keep your closet organized and your home tidy, but don’t forget that there’s one more benefit that comes out of all that. You’ll also have a reason to buy new clothes.
6. It makes clothes accessible
Not everyone can afford to buy new clothes, especially clothes for school, interviews, and events. Winter shoes, sweaters, and coats are also in high demand during the winter. Getting these things for free or at a lower cost means the world to some families and makes clothes accessible.
7. It makes you feel good
Doing something good feels good. If you’ve ever donated anything or helped someone in need, you know that doing things for a worthy cause feels good. Regardless of the condition and the quality, all your clothes can be recycled or donated. It won’t just make you feel good but help those in need as well as the environment.
8. It builds generosity
One of the reasons why you should donate old clothes to charity is that you’ll become more generous. Regardless of your age and gender, you should work on improving your generous nature by doing selfless acts of kindness such as making donations.
9. You’re setting an example
Donating clothes is something even kids can usually do. You can teach your children to be more generous by telling them to donate the clothes that they have outgrown. Set an example by making a donation of your own, and they’ll probably gladly follow in your footsteps. Donating clothes is a small action, but it can help everyone around you see the beauty of giving and inspire them to do the same as you. Explaining the benefits of giving to your kids by helping them donate their old clothes can be a fun experience for you all.
If you can’t donate your old clothes, read about the reasons to give to charity because you might be able to donate something else, whether it’s household items, money, or your time.