Gently used dress clothes are a hot commodity. While it’s easy to walk into Goodwill or The Salvation Army and snag a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, finding appropriate attire for a job interview, professional career, or court can be a challenge.
If you’re cleaning out your closet and want to make sure your gently used suits, dresses, slacks, button-downs, and other professional attire go to a worthy cause, donate them to any of these charities.
Jails to Jobs
Jails to Jobs is a nonprofit organization that helps ex-inmates secure employment. It provides tips for securing a job, a list of places that hire ex-offenders, and a directory of local nonprofits that offer free interview clothes.
If you want your dress clothes to benefit ex-inmates, use the search function here to locate a charity in your city.
Dress for Success
Dress for Success helps women secure economic independence. This organization provides low-income women with professional clothing, interview tips, and a support network. While Dress for Success is based in New York, it has affiliated locations across the country.
You can check a list of affiliated Dress for Success sites here to see if there’s a drop-off location near you.
Career Gear
Career Gear helps men from all backgrounds gain meaningful employment. One way they do this is by providing interview and professional clothing. Career Gear relies on men’s dress clothing donations to keep its program running.
You can donate men’s button-down shirts, slacks, belts, suits, and other professional attire. Search here for your local Career Gear donation center.
Homeless Shelters
Most homeless shelters do more than just provide temporary housing—they also help the homeless population secure jobs and places to live. Dress clothes are an often-needed commodity in these situations, as professional attire can help someone obtain employment.
Contact your local homeless shelter to see if they need dress clothes. Many shelters accept donations year-round, while small shelters only accept clothing sizes that fit their current residents.
Vietnam Veterans of America
Vietnam Veterans of America is a charity that supports veterans and their families. This organization collects household and clothing donations (including dress clothes). It then sells these donations to privately owned thrift stores and uses the proceeds to fund programs that support veterans.
Schedule a VVA pickup here. You can also check out these other organizations that will pick up your donations if you have a lot to get rid of.
Local Women’s Shelters
Women’s shelters help women escape domestic abuse. If you have a local women’s shelter, donate your professional attire. These women often have nothing—nice clothes can set them up to gain employment and financial independence.
If you’re not sure if there’s a shelter near you, try searching on Google.
Buy Nothing Groups
The Buy Nothing Project encourages freely giving and receiving items in an attempt to cut down on consumerism, reduce waste, and save money. You can find local Buy Nothing Groups on the project’s website, FreeCycle, and Facebook.
If you want to benefit this cause, list your dress clothes for free. A community member can then request to pick them up.
Should You Donate Dress Clothes to Goodwill or The Salvation Army?
If you live in a small town or are looking for a quick and easy way to unload your dress clothes, donate them to Goodwill or The Salvation Army. Even though these organizations have a reputation for being greedy, donating to them still allows your gently used items to benefit the next person and keeps them out of the landfill.
