There are many reasons why Americans want to donate clothing. For instance, one may feel some purpose in giving clothing to the homeless, while another person may want the tax deduction that donations give. Some may feel a responsibility to the homeless and other groups while others just may want to feel a little good for doing “good” work.
However, while many people believe giving clothes to the homeless helps them out, there is mixed research into reducing homelessness altogether, though many administrations, including the Obama administration have tried to reduce homelessness through the Housing and Urban Development department.
Americans believe giving to the homeless helps and in the short term it may or may not. Clothing can help for long winter nights, while food provides them some comfort during the day, when they can eat in public places and sleep for awhile in enclosed public spaces while the temperature gets warmer.
There are many statistics surrounding the homeless population, including the following.
- In January 2015, 564,708 people were homeless on a given night in the United States.
- About 15 percent of the homeless population – 83,170 – are considered “chronically homeless? individuals.
And there are many statistics surrounding the donation of clothes that Americans give on a yearly basis to families and individuals worldwide, whether these individuals are homeless or they are low-income and in need of more affordable clothing than those found in department stores.
These statistics include:
- 70% of people in the U.S. give to charity each year.
- 3% of American income is given to charities each year.
There are many reasons why someone might contribute to a charity. For instance, there are numerous organizations, whether religious in affiliation or general community service organizations, that emphasize giving back to individuals in need as some kind of situation where they are “blessed” and things work out for them in return.
This is often called the boomerang effect of giving for charity, the idea that some kind of giving work will be preceded by a great deal of “contemplation.”
Giving clothes can be looked at as a relatively easy, less time consuming way to “do a good work.” Giving clothes often helps disadvantaged populations such as the poor and the homeless. Clothes can go a long way especially during the winter season to better able the homeless and poor to stay warm through clothing during the winter.
More Americans are seeing donating clothing as helpful to disadvantaged populations. For instance, internationally, more than 14.3 million tons of donated American textiles help cloth people and families worldwide. However, according to the EPA, Americans throw away an average of 10 pounds of clothes per person each year.
In fact, Americans consume billions of garments every year. Americans consume nearly 20 billion garments a year. That?s 68 garments and 7 pairs of shoes per person or more than one piece of clothing purchased per week. This is a great deal of garments and clothing per person, some that could be donated to help the disadvantaged.
There is an organization that does a great deal of good in many communities in America and around the world that is also an organization that deals out food to the homeless, low income, and some that are in difficult situations due to disasters. It is the American Red Cross.
For 24 hours per day, 365 days a year, the American Red Cross provides relief for families and communities in the form of blankets, food, blood and shelter. The American National Red Cross is the 13th largest U.S. charity as ranked by private donations. It received $687 million in 2014 in private donations.
There are different terms for situations that the American Red Cross allows for citizens to participate in. There is the Red Cross clothing pickup, the Red Cross donation center, Red Cross clothing donations, American Red Cross donations, and more. A Red Cross clothing pick up has the convenience of different options.
In the case of a Red Cross clothing pick up, a person can call and say they have clothing to donate. With a Red Cross clothing pick up, someone will drive to the house and pick up the clothing. With a Red Cross clothing pick up, a person doesn’t have to leave the house.