CLOTHING DONATION FUNDRAISER FAQ'S
How does donating clothing help the planet?
Donating clothing = textile recycling! Not only are your unwanted items going to be re-used by someone who needs them, you are helping to keep clothing out of landfills. More than 11 million tons of textiles are dumped in landfills across the country, and there can be many long-term environmental harmful effects. Decomposing clothing releases methane, a harmful greenhouse gas and a significant contributor to global warming. There are dyes and chemicals in fabric and other components of clothing and shoes that can leach into the soil, contaminating both surface and groundwater.
What happens to the donated items?
The clothing we collect is sorted and exported to those in need, some to third world countries such as Africa. Our clothing collections are not shredded. We encourage patrons to donate items that are in good, usable condition. If you would not use it yourself if it was given to you, then it is not suitable for donation.
These second-hand items are much needed in other parts of the world, where its residents cannot afford new items or the costs of these items even at thrift store retail prices within the United States. Sending items to these areas helps supply them with much needed garments that they would not have access to, or be able to afford to purchase otherwise.
What items can I donate?
Clothes and shoes (men's, women's, children's, infants'), accessories (belts, purses, backpacks, hats), small toys (soft or hard toys below 14 inches), linens (bed sheets, blankets, curtains). All donated items should be in good, usable condition. If you would not use it yourself if it was given to you, then it is not suitable for donation.
What do we not accept?
We do not accept: books, board games, puzzles, large toys (above 14 inches in size), art supplies (crayons, markers, coloring books, crafting items, fabric scraps), furniture, rugs, exercise equipment, appliances or electronics of any kind (nothing with a cord), winter boots, winter coats, single shoes, roller skates, ice skates, unusable clothing (soiled, stained, damp, damaged, tattered items with holes or tears, rags), baby items (pack and plays, car seats, strollers, baby seats, loungers), miscellaneous housewares, decorative items, bric-a-brac, dishes, glassware, baking/cookware, pots/pans, kitchenware of any kind.
Why can’t Millennium accept certain items?
Millennium exports a great deal of clothing to some of the poorest areas of the world. Most of those areas are in very warm climates, such as Africa, where they do not need items like winter coats or boots. In other parts of the world, the electrical outlets differ, so many of the things that we plug into our outlets in the United States can’t be plugged into the type of outlets in Africa. Mostly, the people living in these areas just need good, usable clothing to wear which is why we do not accept items that are stained or unusable. We collect clothing to send to people in need so that they can wear them.
Can I recycle the items that Millennium does not accept?
YES! There are many facilities, even in your town or county, that can accept items like rags, dishes, electrical appliances, and furniture. If you contact your town recycling center, they should be able to help you recycle the items that Millennium cannot take.
How should items be packaged for donation?
13-gallon white kitchen trash bags are preferred, but use whatever you have on hand such as shopping bags from grocery or retail stores – either plastic or reusable type. If you use black trash bags, preferably 30-gallon and under, please only fill them about halfway. Otherwise, they are too heavy and unwieldy. Black bags are usually best for bulkier items that take up more space such as sheets, towels, toys, etc.
Should we sort through or re-bag donations?
No, please do not touch them. We can only accept directly donated items, or "unsorted." These are items that have gone from someone's home, into a bag, to your fundraiser, and has not been touched (no one has removed anything from the bags). If you were to remove or transfer anything from one bag to another, it is then considered "sorted."
Please clearly advertise what items are acceptable to be donated, and ask that they be bagged appropriately. We can provide a flyer template that includes this information. Any potential donors are welcome to contact us directly with questions.
Our organization has a rummage/yard sale each year. Do you pick up leftover items from these events? What if we have a clothing drive separately from our rummage/yard sale?
No, we cannot pick up any leftover clothing from rummage or yard sales because they are considered "sorted."
No, we cannot coordinate a clothing drive with your organization at another time if you have a rummage/yard sale throughout the year. Also, we cannot pick up from your organization if you are affiliated with a thrift store.
Is there a minimum required for a pick up?
We recommend collecting at least 100 bags to ensure your fundraiser is a financially successful endeavor.
How can we make sure that we collect 100 bags?
- Ask ahead for estimated donations from those you know will donate so you will know how much you can anticipate.
- Provide alternative donation drop off times and locations aside from the day of the event. Ask volunteers to bring these items on the date of the event or pick them up.
- Extend the collection period. Find a location to collect donations continuously to ensure that you hit your goal!
What happens if we do not collect at least 100 bags?
If you are close enough, we will still pick it up. If your collection falls very far below the minimum, and you are scheduled for a weekend pick up, we may need to reschedule your pick up to a weekday. The driver will contact you prior to departure, and we will determine from there. Or, contact us to set up a time to drop off donations at our facility during normal business hours.
Are there any other specifics for storing the donations until they are picked up?
Yes, please arrange for proper storage/protection of your collections in the event of rain. If you will not have access to inside storage for the day of your collection, try to recruit a few volunteers who may have larger SUV's, van's, minivans, etc., where donations can be stored and kept dry until we arrive to pick them up. If the contents of the bags of donations get wet, they become unusable.
We want to have a fundraiser, but we don't have the space.
Hold your event at our facility! We have a great parking lot and will certainly loan it out to you for the day of your collection.
Corporate Sponsors: Host a clothing donation drive without having to figure out where to store the donations in your building. Contact us to drop off your donations at our facility.
How can we make more money from our clothing drive?
Your group can earn more by scheduling to drop off your clothing drive collection at our facility. You can arrange to bring your collection all at once, or direct your donors to drop off at our facility over the course of a few days during your event. We will keep a running tally of donations received for your organization and pay out the cumulative total afterward.