Tag: clothing donations

A Few Things Donations Helped Fund

Posted on by Jordank

When you donate to ClothingDonations.org, you do more than get rid of unwanted stuff quickly and easily; you also help address the needs of the nation’s veterans. The Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) uses proceeds from the resale of donated goods and other fundraising efforts to contribute to veterans’ programs of all kinds nationwide.

For example, VVA funds helped co-host a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Town Hall in Asheville, N.C., last year to connect area veterans with crucial counseling and support services. Almost one-third of veterans who served in Vietnam have suffered from PTSD at some point since serving, and veterans of the Gulf Wars are likely just as susceptible.

In New York, VVA Chapter 11 helps veterans in trouble with the law manage mental health issues and re-adjust to civilian life through the Suffolk County Veterans Court. Mentors from the VVA-funded diversionary program have helped hundreds of at-risk veterans address criminal charges, convictions, substance abuse and other issues in the six years since it was launched.

VVA fundraising has now helped recognize every single veteran of the Vietnam War living in Indiana through the “Quilts of Valor” program, established in 2003. And in San Angelo, Texas, a Vietnam-era helicopter is being restored to mark the city’s Vietnam War Memorial after suffering non-combat damage at the city’s Fourth of July celebration last year.

So, whether you already took advantage of Presidents Day to start your spring cleaning or are just figuring out where to begin, know that all of that stuff you’re going to be giving away goes toward good causes—causes that help those who have served throughout the country. VVA appreciates your support!

Benefit from a Boxing Week

Posted on by Jordank

Yesterday was Boxing Day, a holiday observed in Great Britain since the Middle Ages that rewarded servants and employees who couldn’t celebrate Christmas on the 25th of the month with a box of presents, food, money or another appreciation for their service. The tradition likely arose in the early Christian era, when churches used alms boxes to collect special offerings for the feast of St. Stephen, typically celebrated on Dec. 26.

People in former British colonies such as Canada and Australia see Boxing Day as a shopping holiday similar to Black Friday, and in the United States, savvy consumers can take advantage of the first post-holiday markdowns. Others, however, use the day simply to relax after a busy holiday season or observe Boxing Day in the most literal way: by boxing up holiday decorations for storage and unwanted gifts to return to stores.

As you recover from the holiday hubbub, VVA suggests that you observe Boxing Day all week long. When you take down the tree and pack up your holiday decorations, check to see if there are any extra ornaments or other seasonal items that you no longer need. When you bag up items of clothing that just aren’t your style or size for return, make up another bag of lightly-used items for donation. Then call ClothingDonations.org to schedule a pickup.

The proceeds from your donations will support programs that help clothe, feed and house veterans nationwide — a great way to show appreciation for people who have dedicated their lives in service to their country, similar to Boxing Day’s original intent. And your home will return to its everyday state with that little bit of additional space you made by bagging, boxing and getting rid of the stuff you just don’t need.

Clutter can make people “crazy, ” according to Cleveland Clinic psychologist Scott Bea, by leading to chronic distraction, stress and depression. So if you really want to relax after the holidays, start by clearing out a few things you no longer need or want. You may find that establishing a Boxing Week tradition now will supply you with good cheer all year long.

Cyber Monday Delivers Deals Online

Posted on by Jordank

The National Retail Federation reports that for the first Black Friday ever, more people shopped online than in stores—and Cyber Monday is sure to deliver more deals. As you go bargain-hunting from your smartphone or desktop today, remember the many gifts of Christmases past that no longer fit or get much use. Give them to ClothingDonations.org, and you’ll help fund veteran’s programs and clear the clutter ahead of the holidays.28

Make Room for Your Black Friday Buys

Posted on by Jordank

Since the advent of the indoor mall, the day after Thanksgiving — Black Friday — has become a holiday unto itself. The overwhelming, all-American desire to get a good deal on holiday gifts has made the day a huge event for consumers. And retailers are only too happy to oblige, since many chains look to the last two months of the year as their biggest opportunity to command a profit for the year.

Retail stores expect to post $3 billion in sales this Friday, up 11.5% from 2015. And Black Friday’s online corollary, Cyber Monday, is set to match those figures. In fact, Black Friday is no longer just a single day; Amazon launched 35 straight days of “Black Friday” promotions last week, offering a new deal every five minutes through Dec. 22. And eBay, Macy’s, Target and Walmart aren’t far behind; many retail stores will open when the sun sets on the Thanksgiving feast.

As you head to the malls and superstores this year to get a great deal on a big-screen TV or Playstation VR system, don’t forget that you’ll have to make room for those bargain finds. Because for every people-pleasing gift of Black Fridays past, there’s a sweater that just didn’t fit, a toy nobody liked or a countertop appliance that was used once before getting shoved to the back of a closet.

Bag up that unwanted apparel and other items and call ClothingDonations.org for a pickup. They’ll be taken to a thrift shop and resold, putting them into the hands of people who use and appreciate them while funding programs that benefit the nation’s veterans. You’ll earn a tax deduction, and be secure in the knowledge that the deals you found on previous Black Fridays and abandoned won’t add to landfills.

You’ll also give thanks for the newfound space you can use to hide any deals you find this Black Friday and Cyber Monday before you wrap them up for gift-giving. And that will make for happy shopping and a happy holiday!

Plan Ahead for a Stress-Free Thanksgiving

Posted on by Jordank

Hosting a holiday feast? Plan your menu now to ease the stress. Divide your grocery list into perishables and nonperishables and buy the latter this week; closer to Thanksgiving Day, pick up the produce, dairy products and bird. Make space for it all by cleaning out any unused or expired leftovers and condiments—just like you would clean your closets when you donate to ClothingDonations.org.