Every Monday Matters - Donate Clothes

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FACTS

20 billion pounds of clothing and textiles are thrown away every year—an average of 68 pounds per person.

1.5 billion pairs of unworn or barely worn shoes are lying in closets.

Over 36.2 million of the U.S. population lives in poverty.

On average, 3 million men, women, and children are homeless at some point each year.

50% of all homeless women and children are fleeing domestic violence, usually with only the clothes on their backs.

Clothing donations to qualified charitable organizations are tax deductible.

TAKE ACTION TODAY

Contact a local shelter or organization that receives clothing donations and ask about any specific clothing needs.

Look through your closet for clothing, coats, shoes, suits, blankets, pillows, purses, briefcases, umbrellas, and scarves that are in good condition and that you haven’t used in a year or more.

Organize a clothing drive at work, school, place of worship, or in your neighborhood.

Wash or dry-clean items. Don’t donate items that are stained or torn.

Fold and pack clothing in boxes, attach appropriate labels, and then deliver them.

Consider giving directly to a homeless person.

YOU MATTER

Donating clothes is one of the easiest ways to affect someone’s life in a very tangible and significant way. You can help someone stay warm, wear shoes without holes, dress properly for a job interview, or don a new outfit for school. Do you really need all those clothes filling up your closet?…Millions of other people do.

Goodwill Locator

How to Organize a Clothing Drive

Monday used to be the least favorite day of the week, but that is changing. EMM is based on the idea that every Monday people can make a difference in their life and the lives of those around them. No matter how big or small the actions, they matter. And not only do people have the power to make change, they have a social responsibility to do so. Not out of guilt, but out of an appreciation for every living thing in the world. Together, each person can make a difference in the world and raise the collective consciousness, thereby creating a legacy worth participating in…one Monday at a time.

For more information about the EMM movement visit: http://www.everymondaymatters.com/

I saw homelessness up close today

Over the years I've seen many homeless people and traveling souls at a popular intersection near the Interstate. They usually have signs explaining that they're traveling, homeless with no money and hungry. Mostly hungry!

It is always very sad to see and I have tried to help many times by getting bags of fast food from a nearby McDonalds. I want to do more, but I know I have to be very careful.

That is why I think few people direct the homeless to the help they need, let alone even look at them directly. Avoiding eye contact at all cost as they drive by.

No one chooses to be homeless. We have no idea what they have been through to become that way. Not everyone has family who can or is willing to help them. Many of the homeless have suffered horrific abuse and many suffer from some form of mental illness.

Many individuals with mental illness have been forced out on the streets when their 'homes' have closed. This is a continuing problem as more and more mental health facilities close due to lack of funding and budget cuts, adding to homelessness.

Earlier last week I saw a couple asking for food at that popular intersection, with a sign saying that were traveling, trying to get to family. They had 2 dogs with them and someone had already given them bags of McDonald's food. They were smiling inspite of have nothing but a couple of back packs and the layers of clothes they wore. It has been extremely cold here this winter and continues to be, especially at night.

Today I saw just the lady this time and only one of the dogs outside the near where I saw them 9 days ago. Sitting on the concrete outside a Walmart, leaning on the brick wall. She looked asleep.....at least I hoped so when I saw her. My heart sank when I saw her dog licking her and she didn't respond. She was filthy dirty, with her pants now shredded from the knees down and covered in mud. Not how I remembered her clothes looking a week earlier. I would have noticed that.

It was incredibly heartbreaking as I drove by after getting gas. As I sat at the stop sign, I could see lots of people walking by her and no one kept their eyes on her for more than a second and no one checked to see if she was alright. No one! I felt so sick inside!

I didn't know what to do and couldn't understand why no one was helping her; especially since there is a Police Satellite station at that same Walmart. Where was her husband or boyfriend? What happened to her in those 9 days when their sign had said they were traveling?  Why was she homeless in the first place.

I wanted to go back but I knew she needed more help than just a bag of McDonald's food. So I made some phone calls to some organizations and churches that I knew helped the homeless. I found someone who was going to try and get her to a shelter. I was relieved, but just a little. I cried all the way back to work this afternoon and have been praying for her, for them, ever since.

I saw homelessness up close today and I can't get that picture out of my head. Maybe that's because I need to do something. But what? I have my own special needs son and myself to take care of. Still, I feel very lucky tonight and even a little guilty for the simple life we have. I want to do something to help. In the mean time, please pray for this couple and all the homeless souls out there tonight.

For more information on homelessness and ways to help, visit Pictures the Homeless.org.  Thank you!