You have a large pile of clothes that you’ve been holding on to for years. It grows bigger and bigger as you buy new clothes, slowly taking over your entire wardrobe. Have you considered donating your clothes to a local charity? Does Salvation Army take clothes?
Every charitable organization has a list of items that they will and will not accept. Salvation Army’s list of acceptable items is based on whether or not the item is in good condition, can be sold or given away to a customer, and how it fits into their mission statement.
Will The Salvation Army take old clothes?
Founded in 1865 by Methodist minister William Booth, the Salvation Army is a Christian church known for its charitable work throughout the United States and in 128 countries. While they are most known for their red kettles each Christmas season, they operate a variety charities and homeless shelters throughout the year. They also have a retail arm that sells various used goods to raise funds for their various services.
The Salvation Army has a list of items that they will accept through either their retail stores or donation centers. While the list changes from time to time, it mainly consists of furniture, electronics and clothing. So, if you’ve been wondering whether you can donate some of your unwanted clothes to Salvation Army, you might be in luck! The non-profit organization accepts a variety of clothing items, as long as they are in good condition. They do not accept donations that are ripped, stained or have holes in them. Clothing must also be cleaned and pressed before being donated to them. This is due to the fact that they run a retail branch as well and need their donations to be in great shape for their customers.
If the clothing you have is gently used, in good condition, and free of stains, rips, or odors you can take it to your local Salvation Army donation center. You will be doing a great service to both the Salvation Army’s retail and donation centers.
Since they do not have enough space to store all of their donations, they will be able to sell them at a discounted rate. Your old clothes don’t have to end up in landfill where they will slowly decompose. They can end up with a new owner and continue to live on.
Other places to donate clothes
If the Salvation Army does not accept clothing in your area, or you have clothes for a different charity, there are other places to donate. Some of the most prominent ones include the following;
Goodwill
This organization has a large presence in the United States and is known worldwide. It is a non-profit organization that provides numerous services to people with disabilities, veterans, women and children.
It operates donation centers, thrift stores and secondhand shops throughout the country. Due to their large presence, they can accept just about any type of clothing item you want to give them.
The American Red Cross
The American Red Cross has been providing disaster relief services for well over a century. They are a non-profit organization that focuses on the needs of people and ensuring they have access to clean drinking water. They also offer food, shelter, and health services to those in need. The organization accepts donations of clothes, funds and blood throughout the year.
The Children’s Cancer Fund
The Children’s Cancer Fund is an organization that helps families with children under 18 who are suffering from cancer. They provide financial, emotional, and logistic support to these children and their parents. In addition, they also raise funds throughout the year to help cover medical treatments. One way they raise funds is by donations of clothes, toys, housewares and more.
Planet Aid
Planet Aid is a charity organization that provides aid to impoverished babies, children and their families in third world countries. They also run a recycling program that helps people in the United States reduce their carbon footprint while also providing jobs to people in third world countries.
If you have clothing that you no longer wear or want to get rid of any gently used items, this is a great place to donate them. You can do your part to help those who are less fortunate by donating your unwanted clothes and other items. While some may throw away their clothing items, an increasing amount of non-profit organizations are relying on donations from the community for their operations and programs.
Final Thoughts
The Salvation Army is a charitable organization that operates a large number of programs, services and shelters across the country. It also has a retail business that will be able to accept your gently worn clothing items. If you would like to donate clothes to them, or have any other questions about the organizations policies and operations, please feel free to contact them or visit their website at www.salvationarmyusa.org.
FAQs
What is the most helpful place to donate clothes?
The Salvation Army has a wide variety of donation centers, thrift stores, and retail locations throughout the United States. There is also Goodwill, who has an even wider reach.
What can be donated to The Salvation Army?
Any clothing item you would like to get rid of, or any gently used items clothing store is willing to take will be accepted at The Salvation Army. They also accept more robust donations, such as furniture.
What is the best way to clean clothes before donating?
If you are donating your clothing to the Salvation Army, they recommend washing them in warm water with a mild detergent and then air drying them on a rack or hanger. In other words, you should strive to donate clean clothes that have been laundered properly.