I am cleaning out my closets and want to know where to donate...

[LaydeeBug]

I usually would just drop stuff off at Goodwill, but I think it's probably best, as I recycle some pretty nice clothing, to try and help as BEST I can, and not just the *easiest* way I can. I am not really all the up to speed on donations (again, used to just drop it off at Goodwill, and I don't really care too much about a tax credit, I just want it to get to someone who could use it)

So, what say you, good liberal people? Disabled American Vets?

I am in the Balto-Washington corridor if that plays any role. I am donating tomorrow or the next day.

[Renew Deal]

1. I usually give clothes to a local church

They have a dropbox. It's not even a church that I go to. It's just nearby.

[seabeyond]

2. golden spread or faith city, in my area.

i have two that just handout in my area. not resell. i give to them.

bigger items that are not so much for existence, i give to a goodwill type.

[JustAnotherGen]

3. Any women's clothing?

Look into Dress for Success. I'm no longer in a group where I have to wear a suit every day - and has some beautiful ones . . . think a closet full of Jones New York. I gave away all but 4 - and they were thankful to have them. And don't forget any costume jewelry, brief case type bags you don't use anymore, scarves you no longer wear, dress shoes in good condition, purses.

I don't know if they have one in your area - but they might be able to point you towards a woman's shelter or a long term shelter for women trying to get back on their feet.

Cocktail dresses/formals - Cinderella's Closet.

[Autumn]

4. I give my good used clothing and coats to Catholic Outreach

I started doing that when I worked with a woman who had been going through a real bad time and she contacted them to help her with her utilities and they had her come in with her children and they outfitted them with clothing for school at no charge.

[Lisa D]

5. I like to donate to the Spouse Abuse Center or Battered Women's Shelter

Many of the women leave the abusive home with only the clothes they're wearing.

[madmom]

11. This is the best IMO. I volunteer with a group

of locals who do benefits for area charities. We have been asked more than once to donate gift card so women and children can get needed clothes, shoes etc, because they have nothing but what they are wearing.

[PA Democrat]

16. I like this as well.

Some of the shelters also look for donations of nice business attire for women looking for employment.

[DevonRex]

19. Perfect reply.

The clothing will go directly to a woman needing to dress up for a job interview. And she won't have to pay a dime for it.

[JaneQPublic]

6. Thrift shops?

http://www.thriftstorelistings.com/Maryland/

[movonne]

7. shelters and womens crisis centers...

[Lint Head]

8. We give clothes and goods to the homeless shelter here.

It's such a gratifying thing to give directly to the people that need and can use things.

[Ineeda]

9. If you have a local

rape/domestic abuse/safe place organization, they usually have tremendous need. Generally, they provide for immediate needs of women and children, and some have a retail shop associated with it.

[City Lights]

10. I donate all of our stuff to Purple Heart Veterans, Disabled American Veterans, or Vietnam Veterans.

http://www.purpleheart.org/

http://www.dav.org/

http://www.vva.org/

I'm on the call list from each of these. I don't have stuff each time someone calls, but when I do, they make arrangements to pick it up from my house. They use a charity pick up truck that periodically makes the rounds through the neighborhood. I leave the stuff in bags or boxes on the porch or in front of the garage, and they pick it up.

[HopeHoops]

12. Good Will is good. If you have a Community Aid or Volunteers of America, that's better.

I'm not dealing with Salvation Army anymore because of their solid anti-gay stance.

[renate]

13. I wish there were a Dress for Success near me

Like you, I have some nice stuff that I'd be more than happy to give away--cashmere sweaters, skirts, shoes--that would be really useful for someone building a wardrobe, but there isn't a Dress for Success nearby. And I don't really want to donate something to a thrift store that would only sell for $5 or $10 or $15 if it could be used instead by someone who can't even afford that. I've called the local women's shelter and they don't take direct donations.

I've been thinking of selling things through eBay Charity Works--they automatically send whatever percentage you want, up to 100%--to an organization of your choice. So at least that way, a cashmere sweater could be turned into $40 for somebody instead of just $10 for Goodwill. (Yes, $40 is pretty steep for a sweater on eBay, but people might be willing to spend more if they knew the money was going to a good cause.) Until I get organized enough to do that, I'll just keep giving things to the homeless shelter; they give their overflow donations to St. Vincent de Paul's (which is another excellent organization), but I hope they keep the dressier items for their own clients.

But I'm writing this partly to kick the thread, because I'm looking for ideas too.

[MineralMan]

14. Goodwill has a good track record for using money from donations for actual things.

Disabled American Vets gets only a tiny fraction of the value of the donations. They use a third-party company. It sells the donations to privately-owned thrift stores, then gives DAV a small percentage.

Salvation Army has a good track record of using such items, but is objectionable for their stand against LGBT people.

Local shelters often use such clothing to give to people seeking shelter.

Local Women's shelters are especially good if your clothing is up-to-date, since they give it to their clients.

If Goodwill is close, it's a very good choice. Their record is great.

[jwirr]

18. One little known fact about Goodwill is that it hires the disabled that would more than likely not

able to work elsewhere. It is a good place.

[tammywammy]

15. I donate to my local homeless or women's shelter.

That way I know the items are going directly to people in my community that need assistance.

[RebelOne]

17. I donate clothes to the American kidney Fund,

mainly because my sister died of kidney cancer.