Clothing
donation bins have made a revival in our area over the last few months. These
bins come in a wide variety of colors specifically designed to make it easy and
appealing for consumers to donate unwanted clothing and household
items. The majority of these bins have been placed by out-of-state
and overseas
for-profit companies. The fact is our community is receiving no benefit for these
donations.
For-profit
clothing recyclers like USAgain or H&M Recycling with blue bins and
recycling symbols and “Clothing and Shoe Drop” in large white letters, they are
not positively affecting the community. There are other For-profit recyclers
who are collecting these donations locally and selling them overseas or on the
salvage market. There are some for-profit
thrift stores who use a charity’s name to collect donations in exchange for a flat
fee or a percentage of the profits. The problem is the consumer is not
aware of this and the percentage that charity actually makes isn't what
they deserve. In other cases, businesses that sponsor for-profit boxes are paid
rent by that for-profit business. In all actuality the rent is far less
than the real value of the goods collected. One drop box can hold
hundreds of pounds of goods providing income per donation box for the
for-profit business. To a non-profit organization, like Community Aid those
same donations can be worth double, but the best part the donations benefit the
community directly. Remember your charitable donations are tax deductible. Chances are if the organization doesn't offer a tax receipt, they are
a for-profit entity.
Since 2009,
Community Aid has given close to $2 million dollars back to the community. Our
mission is to provide quality gently used clothing to individuals and families
in our community. Whatever Community Aid collects in their clothing collection
bins, the donations stays local. Community Aid’s mission will continue to be
“neighbors helping neighbors”. We will always be reinvesting in the lives of
our community by providing jobs in our thrift stores and affordable gently used
clothing.
For a
list of Community Aid clothing collection bins near you please visit our
website at www.communityaid.net. Or, keep a
watchful eye around your community for the hands on our bins, a symbol of
everyone working together…neighbors helping neighbors.
