Donating your used goods to any organization is a great way to recycle items, rather than unnecessarily flooding landfills even further. There are organizations that take donations a step further by supporting specific groups of people in need. To help combat veterans when they’ve returned to the United States, the Military Order of the Purple Heart utilizes people’s unwanted goods. Find the answers to your questions about how Purple Heart donations work and what you can do to help.
- What exactly is the Military Order of the Purple Heart?
The Military Order of the Purple Heart is a charity that Congress chartered to support military women and men who have received the Purple Heart Medal for wounds they suffered while in combat. Membership for the Purple Heart is restricted to those who were wounded in combat specifically, but the charity supports all veterans and their families through a variety of programs across the country. The Military Order of the Purple Heart chose GreenDrop to assist in raising donation and funds to support its members in need.
- Are Purple Heart donations given directly to veterans?
When you make a donation of your used goods to benefit the Purple Heart, you’re not donating goods to the veterans, but rather generating usable funds to support them. By making donations of clothing or household goods through GreenDrop, the charitable organization is able to sell those goods to local thrift stores. The Military Order of the Purple Heart receives the funds from those sales and uses them to support veterans and their families nationwide.
- What donations are accepted by the Purple Heart?
As charitable donations for the Purple Heart are made through a donation center, the guidelines for donations are virtually the same. You can donate gently worn clothing, textiles, shoes, luggage, household goods, yard tools, and more. When you donate items, make sure they are in good enough condition that someone else would be happy to use them. If your goods are torn or too worn, find other eco-friendly ways to recycle them, as nearly 100% of household textiles and clothing can be recycled in one way or another, regardless of their condition. Some items that cannot be accepted by GreenDrop are objects that weigh more than 50 pounds, large appliances, furniture, and tube televisions.
If you have recently cleaned out your closets or are planning to do so soon, consider donating your goods to an organization like GreenDrop and the Military Order of the Purple Heart that will be able to use them to help others.
Winter is almost here, and that means many of us will buy a new coat to keep warm this holiday season. However, when we replace these garments with newer models, our perfectly good older clothing often goes to waste. In fact, even if those winter jackets don’t simply collect dust in a closet, they’re likely to end up in the trash bin. The average American throws out almost 70 pounds of clothing and textiles each year.
If you’re getting new winter clothes this season, here are five pieces of clothing you should donate to green charities. Before you donate to charity or visit a clothing drop off site, read this list of in-demand winter clothing donations.
1. Winter Coats
Coats and heavy jackets are among the most important articles of clothing you can donate this winter. Whether these items go to helping disabled veterans, homeless individuals, or children in need of cold-weather clothing, everyone deserves to feel warm this winter. A coat can make or break somebody’s health during the colder seasons.
2. Gloves and mittens
Gloves and mittens are winter essentials. Your hands and feet are the furthest limbs from your heart and have the biggest likelihood of freezing in the winter. As such, you need to keep your hands warm with the help of a thick pair of gloves, but even thin cotton gloves are better than nothing. If you’ve recently gotten a new pair of gloves, think about donating your old ones to a nearby clothing drop off site.
3. Hats
Protecting your head is vital during the winter. One of the best ways to keep your head nice and toasty is with the help of a cozy winter hat. Even those individuals who have to make a quick walk to work can be damaged by the cold without the proper headgear. Countless charities and organizations would love winter donations for warm hats, masks, beanies, and earmuffs at this time of year.
4. Baby clothing
Baby and newborn clothing is particularly needed during colder winter months. Babies are especially sensitive to the cold and need all the warmth they can get. Donate small jackets, onesies, hats, and gloves that are suitable for small children and babies.
5. Boots
While it isn’t recommended to donate used socks to people in need, shoes are an overlooked piece of clothing that can benefit countless people. Maybe you got a new pair of boots and don’t need your old ones; maybe you moved and no longer need to hike in the snow. Whatever the reason, a great pair of gently worn boots is always welcome at Purple Heart Pickup locations.
Clothing drop off locations are essential for helping families in need this winter. Make a difference by finding nearby clothing drop off locations and donating your extra winter clothes today.
Charity organizations and their collection partners accept a wide variety of items as donations. Even though people donate thousands of items every year, it’s sadly not enough. Here are essential items donation centers can always use.
Household donations
Household donations are in high demand. You can donate items like cosmetics, toiletries (unopened and unused), blankets, pillows, umbrellas, sunglasses, and more. Hygiene products and first aid items can always be useful.
Clothes donations
All over the country, people are in need of clothes. They need outerwear as well as underwear. Socks are also essential because they are often high-need clothing items that are the least donated. It’s time to donate clothes and help your charity foundations.
Small furniture
Small furniture is often needed by people who are just moving into a place of their own. As long as the items weigh less than 50 pounds, you can donate end tables, coffee tables, wooden chairs, lamps, night stands, and more.
Bags and boxes
Charities receive many donations each and every day, but most people don’t think about donating their boxes and bags. These items can make life easier on volunteers who pick up donations from homes and drop-off boxes. The next time you go grocery shopping or receive a package from your online shopping sprees, don’t throw your boxes or bags away—donate them instead.
Your time
There are many charities around the country that operate effectively because of their volunteers. If you have the extra time, volunteering at a charity organization will not only help others around you, but it will benefit you too. You will derive a great deal of satisfaction knowing that you are helping those in need.
Nearly 100% of household textiles and clothing can be recycled, regardless of the quality or condition. You can donate clothes, small furniture, household items, and your time to charitable organizations. They will all make a huge difference to those in need.
Renovating your kitchen is such an amazing feat. You spent weeks, or even months, designing, planning, and going through the construction. Now that it’s all done and your kitchen looks beautiful, what do you do with all your old stuff? Well, you can donate a lot of it! Here are five household donations you can give to charity foundations from your old kitchen.
Utensils
If you bought new utensils to go with your brand new kitchen, your old ones would make perfect charitable donations. You can donate your flatware, cooking utensils like spatulas and spoons, silverware, glasses, mugs, cups, serving plates, and trays. You would be surprised how a set of silverware can help someone in need. The same thing goes for cups and utensils.
Cookware
When you update your kitchen, it’s not unusual to get all new cookware. Maybe all your pots, pans, glassware, and other bakeware were red in color before, but your new kitchen is blue. You probably want your things to match. Instead of throwing out your old cookware, you can make a donation and help out a family in need.
Storage
Before you ripped out your old cabinets, you probably had to take all your old Tupperware out of that messy cupboard, and you probably realized you have more than you need or use. Have you ever been without a Tupperware container or even a storage jar to put your leftovers in? If you have, then you can appreciate how much it would mean to a family in need to receive that kind of donation.
Appliances
Many charity organizations take appliances, but not all. They typically have to be smaller appliances like microwaves, coffee makers, electric griddles, blenders, and toasters. As long as they are still in usable condition, you can donate them. Someone near you probably needs one of these small kitchen appliances and would be incredibly happy to receive your old one.
Furniture
Furniture makes great household donations for non profit organizations. If you replaced the stools that go with your island, kitchen dining set, or any other type of end table or plant stand, then your old ones can be donated to charity. As long as it weighs less than 50 pounds, you’re good!
Not only will your household donations help others, but it can help you a little bit too. For example, donating a coffee maker can get you about a $4 to $15 tax write-off. So, you might be able to recoup just a little bit of what you spent on your renovation. Plus, it will make you feel great to be helping other families in need.
Renovating your kitchen is such an amazing feat. You spent weeks, or even months, designing, planning, and going through the construction. Now that it’s all done and your kitchen looks beautiful, what do you do with all your old stuff? Well, you can donate a lot of it! Here are five household donations you can give to charity foundations from your old kitchen.
Utensils
If you bought new utensils to go with your brand new kitchen, your old ones would make perfect charitable donations. You can donate your flatware, cooking utensils like spatulas and spoons, silverware, glasses, mugs, cups, serving plates, and trays. You would be surprised how a set of silverware can help someone in need. The same thing goes for cups and utensils.
Cookware
When you update your kitchen, it’s not unusual to get all new cookware. Maybe all your pots, pans, glassware, and other bakeware were red in color before, but your new kitchen is blue. You probably want your things to match. Instead of throwing out your old cookware, you can make a donation and help out a family in need.
Storage
Before you ripped out your old cabinets, you probably had to take all your old Tupperware out of that messy cupboard, and you probably realized you have more than you need or use. Have you ever been without a Tupperware container or even a storage jar to put your leftovers in? If you have, then you can appreciate how much it would mean to a family in need to receive that kind of donation.
Appliances
Many charity organizations take appliances, but not all. They typically have to be smaller appliances like microwaves, coffee makers, electric griddles, blenders, and toasters. As long as they are still in usable condition, you can donate them. Someone near you probably needs one of these small kitchen appliances and would be incredibly happy to receive your old one.
Furniture
Furniture makes great household donations for non profit organizations. If you replaced the stools that go with your island, kitchen dining set, or any other type of end table or plant stand, then your old ones can be donated to charity. As long as it weighs less than 50 pounds, you’re good!
Not only will your household donations help others, but it can help you a little bit too. For example, donating a coffee maker can get you about a $4 to $15 tax write-off. So, you might be able to recoup just a little bit of what you spent on your renovation. Plus, it will make you feel great to be helping other families in need.
