For 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the American Red Cross provides relief for families and communities in the form of blankets, food, blood, and shelter. They can also provide clothing donations to families in need all across the United States. These clothes donations come from everyday people who donate used clothing items to the Red Cross donation center closest to where they live. Donating clothes to the Red Cross isn’t as easy as it sounds, as there are certain steps that have to be taken, and that’s what this article will be taking a look at.
- Decide Which Clothing Items You’re Donating: The first step you’ll need to take when you donate clothes to Red Cross is to decide which clothing items you’ll be donating. As Americans consume nearly 20 billion garments a year, this isn’t always as easy a choice as it sounds. However, there are several rules of thumb to follow that can help with the decision-making process. If you live in a two-season climate, look for any clothing items that haven’t been worn in six months or longer, as those can be safely donated. Also, search for any clothing that no longer fits, as those may also be donated without fear of being needed in the future.
- Make Sure the Clothing Items Are in Good Condition: The next step to take when you donate clothes to Red Cross is to make sure the clothing items you want to donate are in good condition. Most donation centers have guidelines for used clothing donations that need to be followed. The most basic guidelines include the following: donated items must be recently washed, no rips or tears in the fabric, and there must also be no permanent stains anywhere on the clothing. If your items meet these guidelines, they’re okay to be donated.
- Decide How the Donations Will Be Sent In: And finally, the third step to take when you donate clothes to Red Cross is to decide how the donations will be sent in. There are several ways this can be done. Common options include having the donations picked up at your home by workers from the charity, dropping off the donations at a designated collection bin, and finally, taking the donations to a donation center in person. The method you choose will largely depend on what works best for your schedule.
In conclusion, there are several steps that need to be taken when you donate clothes to Red Cross. These steps include: deciding which clothing items you’re donating, making sure the clothing items are in good condition, and deciding how the donations will be sent in. These are the most basic steps you’ll need to take when you donate clothes to Red Cross.
