Hundreds of businesses nationwide donate to veterans’ charities in the run-up to Veterans Day, according to Military Benefits, including Dunkin’ Donuts, Outback Steakhouse and Regal Cinemas. But year-round, proceeds from donations of used clothing and household goods made to ClothingDonations.org help honor and benefit thousands of veterans throughout the country. Schedule a pickup today and remember to go to a local parade this weekend to honor those who have served.
Tag: clothing donations
Chuck the Summer Clothing You Didn’t Wear
The first rule of switching your closets to the fall season? Chuck it if you don’t need it. “We [all] have clothes that we hold onto out of guilt, or habit, or hopefulness that we might wear them again,” author Erin Boyle told the the Sweethome blog. To cut down on that superfluous stuff, dedicate a limited space to a particular season’s clothing; anything that doesn’t fit should be donated (contact ClothingDonations.org for a pickup) or tossed. And be ruthless: If you didn’t wear it this year, you won’t want to unpack it next year.
Don’t Store Clothing You Should Donate
With temperatures cooling, it’s time to put away your light, breezy clothing and make room for sweaters, jackets and coats. First, take all of your summer clothing out of the closet and dressers to take stock. Sort it into categories, then sort each pile into the familiar “keep,” “donate” and “discard” piles. “If you didn’t wear it during the past season, you won’t wear it next year,” The Spruce says. Contact ClothingDonations.org to schedule a pickup for the donate pile, and you’ll be on your way to an uncluttered closet.
Service in Remembrance of 9/11
Every Sept. 11, events around the country commemorate the shocking and terrible events of that day in 2001. But it’s also a good time to pause and remember the veterans who were called into service after that fateful day, as well as those of the nation’s other foreign wars.
In New York City, you can visit the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, which houses thousands of artifacts and photographs from 9/11, as well as more than 1,900 oral histories. In the Washington, D.C., area, remembrances will be held at the Pentagon Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and other locations.
People everywhere in America can commemorate 9/11 closer to home, however. Since the first anniversary of the attacks, Sept. 11 has been designated as a National Day of Service and Remembrance — a day to dedicate time and energy to charitable service as a tribute to 9/11 victims, survivors and servicepersons.
People throughout the country stage food drives, help spruce up public spaces and honor veterans on Sept. 11, and you can, too. Use this search tool to find opportunities to serve, and share your volunteer experiences on the social media, tagged #911Day, to spread the word and get more people involved.
You can also honor veterans any day of the year by clearing out the stuff you no longer need and donating it to ClothingDonations.org. Donations are distributed to secondhand and thrift stores, and the proceeds go toward veterans’ programs nationwide.
No matter when they served, combat leaves an indelible mark on veterans; more than a third will experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following their service. For Vietnam vets, that stress was compounded by a lack of respect for an unpopular war; for younger veterans, by unpredictable and unconventional attacks.
This week, honor the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks by donating a few hours in service to your country. First responders and those who serve in the nation’s military forces gave life and limb in the aftermath to protect the American way of life, and the survivors will appreciate your support.
Show off Those Summer Whites
Labor Day is the last day of the summer season, and the last day traditional fashionistas say that it’s OK to wear white. While few people still observe the archaic fashion rule, the SheKnows blog says, what better time to throw a White Party? Wear your best monochromatics and serve only finger foods that have little potential to stain for an elegant end-of-summer occasion. After the party, you can pack your summer whites away for the next season, or donate them to ClothingDonations.org.