Do you love the feeling of a clean start? Whether it is sorting through old clothing in your closet, or taking the time to clean and vacuum the inside of your car, a clean start helps you feel better about the day, the week, the month. What if a clean start for you, also meant a clean start for a veteran or a military family member?
A fresh start is exactly what you can give by donating to veterans charities or other charitable organizations.
In 2007, an estimated $5.8 billion worth of clothing and clothing related donations were made to American charity foundations. The recovery rate, a measure of what percentage of clothes is recycled, for used clothing and textiles in 2011 was an estimated 15.3% in the U.S. In that same year, an estimated 2 million tons of clothing and textiles were recycled or donated to charity. Unfortunately, An estimated 12 million tons of clothing and textile waste is still thrown out in America each year. Of that, an estimated 90% of the discarded clothing and textiles could have been recycled or reused.
Giving to veterans charities is one way that all Americans can provide military support and a fresh start to military families. If you realized that by donating your unused or unwanted items you could be helping families in need, wouldn’t you do so. Think back to the last time you hung up the phone on the automated call reminding you that a van collecting for veterans charities would be in your neighborhood. Instead of getting irritated and hanging up, consider listening through the length of the phone call and spending that time taking a mental tour through your home and consider what you could donate.
Many people who think they have good intentions end up throwing things away that would be of value to someone else. Donating takes time and it takes thought. Some families have a cardboard box or plastic tub in a permanent location in their home. Everything for donation can be placed in those receptacles until a donation opportunity arrives. Not just clothing, but household items, books, and linens can also be donated. If you decide to do a whole house purge and you have many boxes to donate, you can call charities that pick up donations and get directions on where to leave your items and on what days the pick ups occur.
If organizing, sorting and cleaning makes you feel like you are getting a fresh start, go one step further and donate your gently used items so that some other person, or some other family can have a fresh start as well.
