Where to Donate Used Clothing in Canada
When you think about your closet, is it packed with clothes that haven’t seen daylight in years? The New Year’s resolution pants, the sundress that fit for that one amazing season in college, that “what was I thinking?” sweater from 8 years ago that still has tags on? Or maybe you have kids and their closets are half full of clothes they outgrew years ago.
If any of the above rings true, it’s time to clear out some closet clutter and let those garments bring joy to a new owner. But where should they go? You could sell it yourself, but maybe donating it is the easier and preferred option for you.
You’re in luck, because Canada has plenty of options for donating used clothing. From thrift stores that offer great discounts to charities that help those in need, your old clothing can make a real difference. In this article, we’ll dive into your options for where to donate used clothing in Canada.
Why donate used clothing?
Let’s start with the fact that Canadians dump close to 500 million kilograms of fabric items on a yearly basis (source). That’s not a typo and there aren’t extra zeros; that’s how much is going to landfills every year. By donating clothes and participating in a circular economy, you’re keeping clothes out of landfills. It’s also reducing how many resources are expended on creating new clothing.
Beyond lowering waste and reducing environmental impact, clothing donations also often help charities and local communities. Whether a charity shop or even a for-profit thrift store, most organizations that accept donations are affiliated with charities in some way with funds and/or programs that benefit the local area. Whether it’s a few items of clothes or a closet clean-out, every little bit helps.
Top places to donate clothing in Canada
Here are a few of the more popular options for clothing donations in Canada:
- Salvation Army Thrift Stores accept gently used clothing and household goods. Donors receive a 20% coupon off their next purchase.
- Goodwill operates numerous donation centers across Canada; it also supports job training and community programs.
- Value Village partners with local nonprofits and is the chain I most often visit myself. Locations typically offer 20% off coupons to donors.
- Renaissance operates over 25 locations in Quebec and accepts clothing donations to support employment integration programs.
- Mission Thrift Stores are a volunteer-driven Christian organization with over 50 locations across Canada.
- Talize is a Canadian-owned for-profit thrift chain that accepts gently used clothing donations.
If you typically donate to an organization with several locations across Canada that isn’t listed, let us know in the comments and we’ll get it added!
What to donate and how
Donations are greatly appreciated by all of the organizations listed above, but there are some best practices about which clothing to donate and how that helps both you and the stores you want to support.
Any clothing you donate to Canadian organizations should always be gently used and in wearable condition. Clothes you plan to donate should also be bagged or boxed securely so that it’s easier for sorters to handle.
Want to make donation centres extra happy? Here are some other tips to make your donation go more smoothly and to help organizations out:
- Sort children’s clothing separately from adult clothing.
- Donate shoes in pairs.
- Attach original tags if you have them so clothing sorters will know more about the item at a glance.
- Avoid donating items that are heavily soiled or damaged beyond repair.
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What happens to your donated clothes?
The best donated items are cleaned and resold in thrift stores. This is the best-case scenario, and while everyone hopes their donations are put to immediate good use, not all items are appropriate for in-store sale.
Items that can’t be sold in a thrift store might be sold to other stores or organizations. Some might be exported abroad, where they can be sold in developing countries. Other excess donations might be recycled and used in other products. For whatever is left, most thrift stores do at least have programs to reduce landfill contributions through donation partnerships.
Conclusion
Next time you’re staring at that overflowing closet and feeling overwhelmed, don’t panic—donate! With so many great clothing donation options across Canada, your old clothes can help people and communities in need while keeping textile waste out of landfills. And who knows? Maybe you’ll score a discount that can be used towards your next thrift haul. So get those extra clothes bagged up and make your donation count!
