Where to donate clothes where they will be worn?
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Anonymous
| Not to hijack this thread, but IS there a place you can take ratty clothes? I have a ton of t shirts with small holes, ripped jeans, etc...which I guess I could throw away...but would prefer for them to be recycled somehow? |
Anonymous
There’s a website called ForDays that sells some recycled-materials clothing. You can order a bag from them, ship it to them, and they will recycle the fabric. It’s $10, but that pays for the shipping and the bags are fairly big. |
Anonymous
I had this same question (in addition to OP’s question). So far, I’ve found that H&M says that they will recycle any clothes in any condition and will give you a shopping discount coupon for participating. I’ve never shopped at H&M but there’s one near me, so I’d be curious to hear if anyone has participated in their program because I’d love to drop off a bunch of clothes for recycling but I have major anxiety about contacting and going to new places. https://www2.hm.com/en_us/sustainability-at-hm/our-work/close-the-loop.html Back to OP’s question: 5+ years ago when I worked in Arlington, I used to drop off clothes and shoes in good condition that no longer fit at the Ronda Gilliam Clothing Bank at a Presbyterian church on Columbia Pike. They relocated during a conversion to affordable housing, and I haven’t been back since they moved (again due to anxiety about contacting/going to a new place). It looks like they reopened at a Methodist church in 2020 but then closed due the pandemic. I don’t know whether they’ve reopened since then. I think that a few other houses of worship in the area have clothing banks (like a food bank but for clothes; they give the clothes to people in need), but it’s difficult to find current information. I think that there’s one at the Groveton Baptist Church along Richmond Highway (Fairfax County part of Alexandria). If anyone contacts either clothing bank (or finds another) and confirms their re-opening/location/hours, please update us because I have a lot of nice things to donate but I haven’t been able to get myself to contact either one of them. |
Anonymous
| Women Giving Back in Sterling (VA) takes women’s and children’s clothing that clients (women and children in need) pick out for themselves. |
Anonymous
| Do these places take smaller sizes? Most of them only want clothing in large sizes. I have several bags of very good clothing in sizes 2-6. Very good shape and I do not want to throw them out. |
Anonymous
|
I second the local.Buy Nothing group.
Lots of people in this area don't qualify for aid (or much aid) but are still living close to the edge. Most things on my buy nothing group are snapped up, but it may be different if you live in a "rich" area. In my group, lots of requests for clothes. |
Anonymous
Some of those metal bins in parking lots say they’re are for recycling and not reselling, but they don’t see to be as common. |
Anonymous
| Women Giving Back is great for children and women's clothing--clients get to go "shopping" themselves. They don't want anything stained or the obvious "will never be worn" becuase it is from 1950 clothes. I believe they also have a Pod to drop off if you aren't there during business hours. |
Anonymous
| OP why do you want them to be worn? Clothing donation is an international industry. That’s how it is. It doesn’t exist to serve you. |
Anonymous
Guess what happens to the clothing they don’t select? Which is fine, but what you’re describing is what Goodwill does too. Clothing in good shape goes to the sales floor, and what doesn’t sell gets baled and shipped abroad, where it gets picked through and some of it is retailed again. |
Anonymous
I take these to the fabric recycling bins at the shady Grove Recycling Center. https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/sws/dropoff/ |
Anonymous
THere's a food pantry in McLean that also runs a clothes closet. Out of the Lutheran Church on Chain Bridge Rd. I'd post the name but can't think of it. |
Anonymous
| Value Village in Silver Spring. They don’t do pickups anymore but it’s an amazing thrift store. |
Anonymous
|
PP and all larger scale thrift stores like Salvation Army and Goodwill routinely bale and sell unsalable clothing as rags.
You can add any clothing items that are stained/have tears and place in a separate bag marked “rags.” Done. |
Anonymous
It’s called SHARE of McLean…but they aren’t always accepting clothes so it’s best to check first. |