Oct
07
Does Anyone Know An African Clothes Charity Where We Can Post Clothes To Africa To Reach The Poorest People?
ByI want to donate clothes to African poor people who really need my clothes!
Can someone help me?
Do you have any contact adresses? or do you know any trucks that can collect the clothes then take them for me? if possible for me to avoid all the posting costs. I also don’t mind if I have to pay costs!
8 Comments
October 7th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Bless your little ol’ heart.
You may have all the good intentions in the world but the hard, cold fact of life is that they’re all a bunch of conniving racketeers. The good stuff will end up in car boot sales organised by profiteers in the UK. And the tat that does make it to it’s given destination will be commandeered by whomever has the most guns in the region long before the needy even see it.
You can send a mountain of clothes but the bitter reality is that those who need them most have least chance of getting them.
The only way to really help is to actually work over there. That way you can be sure that your goodness is not being exploited by scumbags. Though it can be a very risky business
October 7th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
I recently read a fascinating article in The Root (an online African-American magazine) that was written by a native of Ghana, who said sending used clothes to Africa actually does more harm than good! Not only has it already caused thousands of African workers to lose their jobs in the local textile industries, but since African fabric has a great deal of meaning on a cultural level, it is killing their traditional heritage, as well. (For the full article, please click on the link below.)
Perhaps it would be more helpful to sell your used clothing to a second-hand shop where you live, and donate the money you get to a charity that benefits people in Africa, instead. I can see that you have a good heart, and I wish you success with this endeavor!
October 7th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Even IF your clothes got as far as the children you intend them for you can rest assured that they will almost immediately be stolen from them by the racketeers out there for sale elsewhere. It really ISN’T worth your good intentions. You’d even be better tearing them up and making draught excluders to give to the old people OF OUR OWN COUNTRY ! ! !
October 7th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Most charities don’t transport clothes to Africa – it isn’t economical. Far better for us to sell the clothes in a charity shop in Britain where we can get good money for them. Then send the money to Africa where we can buy local clothing, food and supplies. That way the money works twice.
Donate them to a charity shop.
October 7th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Work via the Red Cross, they will distribute it in the country of your choice. Even collect it from you and forward it, with all other donations. Any other service could be dicey and the goods could land up in the hands of sellers. Just outside of our town a big ballyhoo about donated clothes, and that was at a Catholic mission station.
Peace.
October 7th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Try Oxfam – all you need to do is put the stuff in a bag and take it to the nearest shop.
October 7th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Instead of blindingly giving away stuff because some charity says so why not ask Oxfam et al if Africans need our clothes when they have been making clothes for centuries – perhaps longer than Europe?
October 7th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
The Old navy is a good charity for that