How To Donate Clothing to Developing Countries

If you would like to support a developing country, one way you can make a difference is by donating clothing. By simply collecting used clothes and shoes and working with the proper organization, you can help out people in need in developing countries. Depending on the organization, your donations can provide aid to people in Africa, Asia and various countries in Europe.

If you are interested in donating clothing to developing countries, here’s what you can do.

• Collect the items. Rummage through your closets and take out what you don’t need or want. Make sure the items are still in wearable condition. Shoes are also accepted by some charities, so collect it all. Clothing for men, women and children, especially infants are in great demand, especially during times of great calamity. If you can, have other people give the items to you so you have more items that you can donate.
• Start locally. Check the yellow pages or check with your local church and see if there’s a small organization in your community that accepts donations for other countries. Churches and social organizations such as Lion’s Club or Rotary may have a drive to collect cash and in kind donations, especially when there is a calamity in a given country.
• Contact Humana People to People. For almost forty years, this organization has been collecting, selling and distributing donated clothing to various countries all over the world. Humana has an extensive network in several countries that enable it to collect donations in kind that are later sold. The money made is then used to fund various projects, such as feeding and education programs for children and adults from developing countries. In some cases, the actual clothing is given directly to those in need, such as for refugees or victims of natural disasters. Drop off locations or clothing banks are placed in supermarkets and other highly visible areas for easy collection of clothes. If you want to work with this organization, visit the website at humana.org or bring your donations to a clothing bank near you.
• Support Planet Aid. Planet Aid is another organization that collects used clothing for people of developing countries. Their bright yellow donation bins located in about 20 states in North America. This organization helps over 15 different countries in need by providing educational, vocational, health and hygiene programs. The group has been helping since 1997. If you like this organization and would like to donate your items to them, you may visit their website at planetaid.org to get more information.
• Go direct. If you are traveling to a third World country, you may want to bring along a box with you of items for donation. When you get there, give it to a charity of your choice. If you have used children’s clothing, you may pass it on to an orphanage. It’s a good idea to do your research before you go to the country, to make sure a reputable and established organization will receive the items. If you don’t have one, drop it off at a local church.

There are various ways to help those in need in other countries. If you are interested in making more donations and supporting international aid groups, you may contact Oxfam International of the Red Cross.