Where to donate clothing in poor condition?

I have a pile of clothes that I'd like to donate to homeless, or something similar. The problem I'm having is that everything that I find online is for donating clothes to an organization's THRIFT STORE to be sold in order to assist the homeless, but the clothes I have to donate would not be considered "saleable" (too much wash wear, a tiny stain, things like that) although they are perfectly *wearable* (I would still dress my kid in the kid's clothes, if they fit her). I hate the idea of just throwing these things away, and I can't help but think some one(s) could benefit from some free clothes (I have some adult clothes and kids clothes), but I cannot, for the life of me, find a place that will take donations of used clothing to simply give to the needy. Does any one out there have any suggestions?

Thanks so much!

Mar 15, 2018

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RE:
Where to donate clothing in poor condition? (Mar 15, 2018)

Hi, for non-saleable clothing, I save them up and take them to the El Cerrito recycling center. Use the green US Again bins. https://www.el-cerrito.org/958/Use-It-Again

This place is amazing - I take all sorts of recyclables when I go. Feels better than landfilling it all. See below for hours and what they take. They do have weekend hours. 

https://www.el-cerrito.org/533/Recycling-Environmental-Resource-Center&…;

Mar 21, 2018
RE:
Where to donate clothing in poor condition? (Mar 15, 2018)

A friend who's a nurse told me that hospitals are often short on clothes to dress people in when the clothes they came in with are unusable.

Mar 21, 2018
RE:
Where to donate clothing in poor condition? (Mar 15, 2018)

I use Freecycle for things like this.  You post a description of what you want to give away, and someone who wants it will email you and then come pick it up. I've had really great experiences with freecycle -- pretty much everything I've ever offered has been taken.  

Mar 21, 2018
RE:
Where to donate clothing in poor condition? (Mar 15, 2018)

In Berkeley on Channing st, just below Roosevelt on the north side of the street is a free box called the Donna Spring Wishing Well. (Donna Spring was a berkeley council woman some years ago) There is a trunk and a little roof. Many people know about it. I have been using it for years, putting things that are still good but charity stores might throw out. I only bring one bag at a time, though, to not overload, as sometimes people pile way too much stuff. The folks who live nearby keep it tidy. It is a nice little community thing and I have even found some things I needed!

Mar 21, 2018
RE:
Where to donate clothing in poor condition? (Mar 15, 2018)

The SF General Hospital volunteer center is always in need of donated clothes for indigent patients who have nothing to wear home. If that is too far for you to go, you might see if Highland Hospital or another east bay hospital needs donations. 

Mar 21, 2018
RE:
Where to donate clothing in poor condition? (Mar 15, 2018)

I request that readers rethink using the Channing Way free box. The house where we were living decades ago built and installed the box as a sturdy receptacle for local (as in immediate neighborhood) donations. Since the to-do of some years ago about whether to remove it, the free box has become better known, and consequently well-meaning people come from all over Berkeley and frequently leave way too many items in it. The stuff overflows or is left all around the box, sometimes getting wet and muddy, and my old Channing Way neighbors really have better things to do than tidying the area every couple of days. Thanks for your understanding.

(Freecycle and such are good. I sometimes leave a box of things that are still in nice condition on our parkway for a day or two--any longer, and it becomes a trash can.)

Mar 28, 2018