Americans are eager to show their support and appreciation for the men and women in the armed forces, veterans, and their families. There are several national and local organizations that help military families and veterans by accepting charitable donations such as food, household goods, or clothing donations. Additionally, there are many charities that pick up donations at various locations, including residential homes, in order to make donations easier and more convenient than ever. However Americans decides to show their support, they can feel confident that they are supporting a great cause.
Gently used clothing donations are a common way for Americans to show their support. Not only are clothing donations beneficial to veterans and military families, they are also beneficial to the environment, which is also a concern for many Americans. Nearly 99% of all clothing that is discarded could have been reused or recycled. In fact, research indicates that nearly 12 million tons of clothing and textile waste is thrown out in the United States each year alone. Many fabrics such as cotton, polyester, nylon and rayon make up an estimated 5% of all trash found in landfills. Fortunately however, clothing donations are increasing in popularity. An estimated $5.8 billion worth of clothing donations were made to charities in the United States in 2007. Additionally, the average American consumer purchases approximately ten pounds of used clothing each year. Clothing donations are an easy way of helping military families, however, these seemingly small donations have a profound effect.
Whether Americans donate their time, money, used clothes or household goods, they can feel confident that their efforts are greatly appreciated.
