Where to donate dilemma...

May 31, 2008 2:36 PM

Michigan: I would like to donate some clothes, so help me find a good organization to do so.

I am looking for a non-evil organization to donate few bags of my family's unused clothes. Of course the organization needs to be secular and not being in any military order (ex. Purple Heart). I know my criteria knocks off the biggest players, but there has to be an alternative somewhere in Michigan. The location does not matter since I frequently travel around, so that won't be a problem.

The closest I found is IICD but wanted to know what else is there.
Let me know, thanks!

posted by GrooveStix to human relations (10 comments total)

Do you travel to Chicago? The Howard Brown Health Center there has a resale shop called The Brown Elephant.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 2:53 PM on May 31, 2008

Women's business clothes can go to Dress for Success. Afaik it's secular, and they have locations in Detroit, Michigan and Grand Rapids.
posted by joannemerriam at 3:07 PM on May 31, 2008

I like Lighthouse of Oakland County. Ten years or so ago I donated some old coats to Lighthouse on a cold day. The next day, I was driving downtown and saw someone wearing a very distinctive old coat. It looked better on him than it ever did on me. :)
posted by disclaimer at 3:33 PM on May 31, 2008

I don't know where you are, but the Ann Arbor PTO Thrift shop donates their profits to local schools and gives vouchers to local homeless/women's shelters for free items.
posted by blackkar at 5:10 PM on May 31, 2008

Goodwill is secular, and I certainly assume non-military. They have a presence in Michigan.
posted by Flunkie at 9:00 PM on May 31, 2008

St. Vincent de Paul, in Detroit
posted by pmurray63 at 9:07 PM on May 31, 2008

Oops, I missed your secular requirement. Although I'm not sure why that should matter.
posted by pmurray63 at 9:08 PM on May 31, 2008

My sister takes old clothes and refashions them into stylish garments, which she then sells. She takes donations, if you would like to support her modest side business. She's in Ann Arbor. Memail me if you'd like to get in touch with her.
posted by BinGregory at 10:16 PM on May 31, 2008

@pmurray63
Religious charities that try to do good because some (desert dogma) prophet or god said so, seem very hypocritical and socially poisonous. I don't like perpetuating that type of system of thinking that got us into trouble in the first place. I'll rather have people who admit to their imperfections, and volunteer out of love and pure concern of humanity.

@Flunkie & @blackkar
Your ideas seem good, so I'll check'em out.
posted by GrooveStix at 10:17 PM on May 31, 2008

Do some research on what's going to happen to your clothes. A lot of charities sell them in bulk by the pound, where they end up in developing countries or are sold to ragmakers. If you have nicer things, you may be better off selling for cash to a consignment shop, then donating the cash to a cause you care about.

By all means, avoid Planet Aid.
posted by Miko at 9:39 AM on June 1, 2008