08/05/2026
Great information before you donate to help those in need.
DONATIONS. ARE YOU HELPING OR HURTING?
Let's take a minute and talk about donations of clothing and household items. The fires in Spokane have brought out the best in everyone, and it is refreshing to see. People are cleaning out their closets and looking around their homes to see what they can donate to those who have been impacted, and it is wonderful. But...
SLOW DOWN! Please review these tips about donating. Sometimes well-meaning donations become a burden to nonprofits and cause more harm than good.
DECIDE WHAT ORGANIZATION YOU WANT TO DONATE TO AND REVIEW THEIR REQUEST LIST CAREFULLY. Take the lists seriously and only provide the items that they are requesting. Make NO assumptions and don't give them items they aren't asking for. They likely do not have the capacity or staff to sort/deliver/store extra items beyond what they are asking for.
INSPECT YOUR ITEMS. DO NOT DONATE STAINED, BROKEN OR ITEMS THAT ARE MISSING PIECES. No-one, regardless of their circumstances, wants to wear clothing that is stained or torn. No one, regardless of their circumstances, will have any more luck using a broken item than you will.
BE DISCERNING. Is the item still of quality use? For example, if your flannel shirt is thread bare and will likely tear the next time the elbow is bent, donate it to a textile recycler. People who need clothing deserve dignity, regardless of their circumstances. They are already going through a hard time, don't donate clothing that will make them feel like they are going through hard times.
And on the flip side - that prom dress in your closet may still be beautiful and will be a great donation to a nonprofit who collects dresses specifically for formal events. Don't assume that donating your prom dress to an organization who is providing emergency relief services will be appreciated. We promise it won't be.
And remember...only donate children's clothing to orgs that serve children. An organization who is specifically collecting for persons 18+, won't have a way to use your baby's old clothes. It creates work for them and takes up space for the items they do need.
WASH YOUR ITEMS. If you want to be helpful, ensure everything you donate is freshly cleaned. Items that are donated that are musty or contain undesirable smells aren't joyful for anyone to receive. Taking the time to ensure your items are clean not only helps the recipient, it ensures the nonprofit you are donating to is able to work with the item and prepare it in a nice way for recipients.
It is easy to grab a box and immediately start filling it from your home. You want to act quickly and help now. We get it. We have done the same thing. But it is imperative that we all slow down, inspect and clean the items we want to donate. Make it meaningful, make it kind.
