New Life for Old Clothes & Shoes

Have you seen the piles of clothing when you drop off bags at the Salvation Army or Goodwill ... the larger organizations that take donated household items? It's very discouraging to realize that much of our "stuff" goes into warehouses. It gives me a feeling of not having done anything by donating.
Why not try something different?

Dress for Success takes women's suits, shoes and briefcases, which are passed on to economically disadvantaged women entering the professional world. www.dressforsuccess.org/how_to_donate/suits.asp

Jobs for Youth, a Chicago-based organization helps young women and men from low-income backgrounds integrate into the business world. They take donations of men's and women's business clothing.
www.jfychicago.org/volunteer/vol_clothing.html

Fairy Godmothers (NY, VA and PA) takes gowns, shoes and accessories to provide girls, who are unable to afford outfits for their proms, a chance to go. After all isn't that what fairy godmothers are for? www.fairygodmothersinc.com/donate/index.html
Enchanted Closet in Atlanta or Princess Project in San Francisco are similar organizations.

One World Running provides running shoes and gear, soccer cleats, and baseball equipment to athletes in Africa, Central America and Haiti.  If your shoes are still wearable, this is a great place to recycle them:  www.boulderrunning.com/oneworldrunning/about.php

If your shoes aren't wearable, send them to Nike (no matter what the brand) to be ground up and recycled as playground mats, basketball courts and running tracks. Better use than the landfill, eh!?
www.nikereuseashoe.com   Read the entire article.