Why you should donate your clothes instead of tossing them

We all like to keep the things that remind us of an unforgettable memory. It could be your kid’s baby clothes. Or maybe you cannot part ways with that lucky shirt that you wear to every game. 

Over time those pieces of clothing or furniture that you have stored can take up precious room. What happens when those storage items start to overfill your closet? What if you have to move into a new home and move all those items?

The easiest solution for some people is to toss their unused clothing and furniture to the dump. This, however, hurts the environment and communities. After decluttering, consider donating those items to a thrift store instead. 

Here are three reasons you should not toss your unused items but donate them to one of our donation drop off Omaha NE locations. 

MAKES CLOTHING ACCESSIBLE

Not all families are the same. Some families struggle to get the basic necessities for their children and themselves. Studies show that 73 percent of low-income families cut back on food to afford household goods. Buying new clothes for an event, interview and school might not always be in your budget. 

Donating your clothing, furniture and appliances gives someone else the chance to purchase them at discounted prices. Thrift stores make clothing and furniture accessible to everyone in the community. This is especially important during the winter months when coats, sweaters and winter shoes are in high demand. 

HELPING SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT

Fashion trends come and go. One day skinny jeans are all the rage and then they are replaced by mom jeans. When those trends go, many people toss them out to the dumpsters. The EPA has found that the average American throws out 81 pounds of clothing every year. 

The clothing that winds up in landfills can stay there for years until they fully decompose. As they are decomposing, many of those clothes emit methane into the air. Donating your unused clothing to donation drop off Omaha NE bins helps stop textile and air pollution. It is a safe and eco-friendly way to recycle clothes. 

HELPS NONPROFITS AND CHARITIES

Many nonprofit organizations rely on the help and support of the community. They need people to help fund their programs that support a cause. Without the help of others, they would not be able to provide essential services.

Some thrift stores, like Thrift World, partner with nonprofits and charities to support them. These stores help increase brand awareness for nonprofits and help fund their programs. For example, at Thrift World, our partners help us collect donations, and we pay them a fee for their collection. When you donate to thrift stores, you are helping support those charities.

WHAT CAN BE DONATED?

Before donating to a thrift store, research to see what is accepted and what is not. Here are some items that Thrift World takes:

• All kinds of clothing (baby, kids, teens, men’s and women’s) 
• Shoes
• Bedding
• Small appliances
• Sporting goods
• Books
• CDs 
• Electronics 
• Small Furniture 
• Hardware 
• Dishware 
• Home decor and items 
• Small tv stands
• Recliners.

FIND A DONATION DROP OFF OMAHA NE

At Thrift World, we have multiple bin locations in the Omaha and Kansas City area. If you cannot make it to these locations, we can still assist. We offer free donation pick-ups! Call us to schedule a pick-up!