Undergarments are essentials that are easy to take for granted if you don’t live in abject poverty. We live our lives with drawers full of bras, socks, and underwear.
We’re running from Starbuck’s to work to yoga—never thinking twice about our underwear. Except maybe once to change into that sports bra for yoga.
While we live our lives in excess, others live life with so little that they choose to pay for food or shelter over purchasing new undergarments. But there is something we can do to help—we can donate our gently used undergarments to those in need.
Gained or lost weight and your bras don’t fit anymore, so you have to buy new ones? Great! Donate any of the old ones in good condition to one of the charities we discuss below.
What Kinds of Underwear Can You Donate?
The most highly donate-able undergarment is the bra. Gently used bras in good condition can and should be donated when they are no longer useful to you.
Can You Donate Socks?
Gently used socks are a bit of a toss-up. Some donation centers will accept them, a major one being some Goodwill locations (donation guidelines vary by store). Many other charities will only accept donations of brand new socks.
If you decide to donate your gently used socks, be sure to follow the guidelines above, and only donate socks that are in good condition. Nobody wants your spaghetti-stained socks with holes and loose elastic.
What Kinds of Underwear Can’t You Donate?
Women’s underwear (panties of any kind), and men’s underwear (boxers, briefs, boxer briefs, etc.) are typically not accepted donations because of hygienic reasons.
A few (very few) charitable organizations will accept used underwear if they’re clean, in good condition, and show no signs of wear. However, you should not donate used underwear even if you know of a charity that will accept them.
Why You Shouldn’t Donate Used Underwear
Good people with the very best intentions donate their used underwear with the thought that it’s still in great condition, and it could help someone who doesn’t have much. However, that puts the needy in quite an undignified position.
Imagine living in such extreme poverty that you have to accept food and clothing donations. To add insult to injury, when you mention that you’re in need of undergarments, you’re given some stranger’s old, used underwear. You don’t want them, but you have no choice but to accept them because you don’t have anything else.
The way to be philanthropic about donating underwear is to contribute to a charity like The Undies Project, that provides brand new underwear to needy women, men, and children.
There are many ways to help The Undies Project. Some are essentially free and barely require any effort.
Find out how you can support The Undies Project: https://www.theundiesproject.org/ways-to-help
How to Recycle Used Men’s Underwear & Panties Instead
So you’re going to help out a charity that gives new underwear to people in need instead of donating your used underwear, but now what do you do with your used underwear?
Fun fact: One hundred percent cotton underwear is also one hundred percent compost-able—just don’t forget to cut off the elastic waistband. Elastic is definitely not biodegradable.
Have underwear that isn’t one hundred percent cotton? No problem. There are quite a few suggestions on what to do with them, but the easiest thing to do is use them as a rag to clean up around the house.
Where to Donate Gently Used Bras & Underwear
I Support the Girls
I Support the Girls is a global charity that accepts donations of new and used bras and individually wrapped menstrual products and distributes them to unhomed women and girls worldwide.
I Support the Girls is a ThirdLove partner and provides bras to girls and women in refugee settlement homes, domestic violence shelters, foster care agencies, homeless shelters, homes for pregnant teens, LGBTQ agencies, etc.
You can donate your bras at one of their affiliate locations or by mail.
Free the Girls
Free the Girls is a charity that collaborates with organizations worldwide that rescue girls and women from sex trafficking and help those women start their own businesses selling the bras that people donated.
Donate your bras by stopping by one of the many businesses or churches that act as drop-off points for the organization. If there are no locations nearby, you can also donate your bras by mail.
The Bra Recyclers
The Bra Recyclers is an efficient charitable organization. They accept all bra donations, no matter the quality.
They distribute bras in good donation condition to charities who will give them out to women and girls in need. They recycle all bras not in good donation condition.
Landfills receive 85% of our textiles, while only 15% are recycled. The Bra Recyclers are looking to change that.
The location finder tool on The Bra Recyclers website will help you find the closest drop-off location for donations. If there isn’t one close enough, you can still donate by mail.
Local Shelters
Don’t forget about your local community! There are women, probably within miles of you, in need of bras.
Find out where your local shelters are and ask if they need and accept donations. The answer will most likely be an enthusiastic yes.
While you’re taking donations to a local shelter, see if your friends and family have items to donate as well. One person can make a huge difference in the lives of a few women at a local shelter.
Goodwill
Donation guidelines vary by location, so contact your local Goodwill to see if they accept bras as donations on their approved items list.
If they do accept bras, they must be clean and gently used. As the guidelines above state: no stains, no rips, and the elastic should be in good condition.
References
- https://blog.thirdlove.com/your-old-bras-can-make-a-difference-see-where-to-donate-them/
- https://www.bustle.com/articles/136843-11-things-to-do-with-old-underwear-instead-of-throwing-them-away/
- https://www.glamour.com/story/how-where-donate-bras-swimsuits/
- https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/2018/11/215057/refugees-women-underwear-unmentionables/
- https://parfaitlingerie.com/should-you-toss-or-donate-your-old-bras/
