Clean Your Closet and Your Conscience

If you’re anything like me, your closet can be downright claustrophobic. Most days I open my closet and reach for one of a few items that I know I’ll wear. I ignore the dozens of other items that taunt me—that black cashmere turtleneck sweater that my high school boyfriend gave me in 1993, or the suit I bought for a summer internship in 1996, or my grandma’s purple ball gown and sheer purple wrap.

Summer is here, and I want to make room for the new white pants I’ve fixated on, the little black dress I’m dying to sport at a beach wedding next month, and the Christian Louboutin sandals I have to have yesterday.

But a closet full of unused clothes makes me feel guilty and crowded, and just throwing them out makes me feel even worse.                 

The good news is that there are many easy ways to declutter while doing good. Here are some examples of organizations that will take your castoffs and turn them into other people’s treasures.

Suited for Change is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit that provides professional clothing and ongoing career development for low-income women who have completed job training programs and are looking for employment. When donating professional clothes, you must make sure they are interview-ready—clean, and in current style and season.

Dress for Success was founded ten years ago in New York City, and since then has helped 300,000 disadvantaged women win economic independence by providing suits for interviews and employment retention programs. There are approximately seventy-five local affiliates of Dress for Success where you can easily drop off a suit that could land a lady her dream job. To read more, see this DivineCaroline article, Dress for Success.

The Women’s Alliance embodies its slogan, “Someone’s Future Is Hanging in Your Closet.” The Alliance is another great place to donate your “gently” used professional clothes and accessories. The organization takes clothing donation one step further by encouraging people to organize clothing and professional accessory drives at their offices, or donating to its Dressing Fine for $29 Campaign.