I have jackets and warm shirts I never wear. Or, maybe I don't wear them very often, in which case I can do without them. I might lament the loss of that perfect gray flannel that I wear while watching football games and eating chili, but I'll survive. There are people in my neighborhood who sleep in the cold each night and the clothes in my closet could help many of them get through another winter, so I'm just going to have to be happy with a few less warm clothes.
You might be the kind of person who has lots of clothes and can't imagine doing without all of them. That's OK. Give a bunch of the away, and then you'll have an excuse to go shopping. See? Everybody wins. Do you have children's clothes that are too small for your kids? Even better. Yeah, you might need those clothes if you have more kids, but there are kids on the street who need those clothes, right now. I am willing to bet that everyone reading this has got an extra jacket or sweater, and who are we to hoard what we have? Let's share our abundance with our neighbors and make this a happy season for everyone - not just the privileged.
Please don't put this off. It's an emergency for many people.
...John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."
2 comments:
I was just wondering what you suggest is the most effective way to get these items to those that need them.
Many people who give away clothes will give them to good will or the salvation army. I don't know exactly how their system works, but I know those places sell the items for very little there on their racks...and then I think they use the profits to help needy people. I'm not sure how or which people though. So are there more specific ways to know that you're getting warm clothes immediately in the hands of people on the streets, apart from going downtown and handing them to someone you see in need?
Maybe this is the best way, but I wasn't sure if that's maybe more dangerouse than a better option you might know of.
I grant that whatever is the best method in Dallas may be a local thing and not applicable everywhere, but I wanted to ask.
Thanks for the good reminder, Adam :)
Good question.
Salvation Army/Goodwill are good places, because they do good work.
I prefer homeless shelters and clothing donation centers, which can be found through Google, usually. Local churches also often will have a list of local charities.
I do not recommend giving them out to homeless people personally, because there are professionals who work for charities who know how to do that most effectively and safely. We just need to provide them with resources; they know how to give them out.
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