Did you know Long Islanders throw away 500 million pounds of clothing every year? Often, they dispose of perfectly-good shirts, pants, dresses and suits, which could easily help someone in need. Rather than tossing your old duds next time, you can make a difference by contributing to contribute to Long Island clothing donations, such as Big Brothers Big Sister of Long Island.
How to Prepare for Long Island Clothing Donations
1) Clean out your Closets
If you would like to donate clothing to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island, first take an inventory of what is stored in your closets, basement or attic. As you sort through your clothing, create a pile for donations and another pile for what you plan to keep.
While sorting, ask yourself these three things:
- How many of the same item, such as t-shirts or sweaters, do I actually need?
- Is it wise to hold on to clothes my children have outgrown?
- Do I really need these clothes that no longer fit me?
2) Look for what’s Especially Needed
Even though all the Long Island clothing donations we receive are helpful, some items are especially popular with those in need, including:
- Denim
- Quality shoes
- Professional clothing, such as suits
- Accessories, like belts, jewelry and gloves
As you prepare to donate, give extra thought as to whether you can truly make use of extra quantities of these types of items.
3) Prepare the Clothes
Once you have chosen what you would like to donate, it’s time to double-check the condition of the clothing. Before scheduling a pick up, you should ask yourself if you would feel comfortable giving your clothing to a friend or relative.
If you have the time, you might want to clean the clothes. It’s also helpful to sort and label clothing into categories, like shirts or pants, especially if you are making a large donation.
Although we accept less than perfect Long Island clothing donations, tattered apparel is not ideal, because it can cost us money to dispose of them.
Whatever clothing you choose to donate, all net proceed go towards supporting the mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island.
What Big Brothers Big Sisters will Accept
- Clothing
- Shoes
- Coats
- Linens
- Pots and pans
- Dishes and glassware
- And other household items
What BBBSLI cannot Accept
- Cribs
- Cars seats
- Playpens
- Mattresses or box springs
- Wheelchairs
- Food
Big Brother Big Sisters of Long Island’s online scheduling tool allows you to select a pickup date. All you have to do is complete a form located on our website. If the date you requested is not available, please call us at (631) 234-0000, and we will be happy to assist you.