You may periodically drop off discarded clothing at donation centers, but do you give it much thought? Your clothing donations may mean a lot to someone who is doing without. There are approximately 600,000 homeless families alone in the United States, as well as 28 million U.S. children and their families who can benefit from clothing donation centers.

It is right to donate clothing to those in need; however, good intentions can sometimes go awry. You don't want your clothing donation to end up in a landfill, or worse, create a new problem for someone to handle. Making the most of clothing donations means considering where your clothing donations will do the most good, and following their instructions carefully.

Think about the following points when preparing your old clothes donation.

1. Decide which organization is the best fit for your clothes donation. Don't forget to support local clothing drives for immediate impact.

2. Donate clothes with dignity, folding clothes neatly, marking sizes and tying shoes together by the laces so they don't get separated.

3. Get your employees involved in clothing donation. Everyone can contribute something, and if you have many items, the organization may even pick up clothing donations.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look over your clothing donation and arrive at a proper valuation

Plan ahead so that your clothing donations don't end up in a trash heap somewhere. Also follow the right steps to make sure that your charitable donation valued at $500 or more doesn't land you in the 'audit' pile.

I recommend: Charity Guide tells what Goodwill and Salvation Army are looking for in terms of clothing donations. Clever Dude explains how to value clothing donations and fill out the proper forms for the Internal Revenue Service.

Give business clothes donations to offer someone a new start

Business clothing donations can give a person a fresh business wardrobe to get through interviews and the first months of a new job. Support these centers by providing business attire donations that fit their criteria: clothing that is laundered, pressed, on hangers and basically ready to wear.

I recommend: Working Wardrobes helps men and women through business attire donations. Dress for Success is a nonprofit dedicated to helping women dress professionally all over the world.

Make the job easier for clothing donation centers

Follow the donations guidelines set aside by the organization, and give them only what they request; they may have plenty of women's clothes, but sorely need clothing for young men or winter coats, for example. Most clothing donation centers want items to be clean, in new or good condition.

I recommend: The Green Guide tells what really happens with donated clothes. Don't let your clothing donations for an international disaster inadvertently contribute to a second disaster. Disaster News advises that you should give only what is requested, such as baby clothes folded in boxes or items marked clearly with the sizes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  For international disasters, it may be better to donate money rather than donate clothes. Aid organizations are often swamped with clothing donations and may lack the manpower and storage space to sort and distribute massive international clothing donations.

Many organizations accept clothing donations for homeless families living in the United States and for children living in low-income households, whose parents can't afford to buy them clothes. Donating clothing to these organizations is tax deductible. Your company can benefit from collecting clothing from your employees, customers and neighborhoods to donate to these organizations by receiving this tax deduction, not to mention doing something charitable for humanity.

You can easily set up a program to donate clothing to one, or more, of many organizations that pick up clothing donations. You can also choose to donate to an organization that has a clothing donation drop off. Get your employees involved in this program, and together, you can set up a system to donate clothes that work best for you. To do that, consider these options:

1. Choose one or more organizations to donate clothing to.

2. Decide how you will get the clothing donations to the clothing donation centers.

3. Set up clothing donation boxes and bins in your neighborhood.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose organizations that will pick up your clothes donation

There are many government-funded programs, schools and churches that will accept the donated clothes that your company receives. These organizations will gladly accept everyday, school and business clothing donations.

I recommend: Vietnam Veterans of America accepts clothing of all types and sizes for men, women, children and infants. The Salvation Army also accepts clothing of all types. You can drop donations off at any of their drop off centers or schedule a pickup.

Find clothing donation drop off centers

Some of the charities that accept donated clothing don't pick them up. Instead, they have clothes donation drop off centers. Contact these charities to find a local drop off center in your area.

I recommend: Use the Goodwill locator to find a store in your area. Some Big Brothers Big Sisters centers accept clothing donation drop offs. Use the locator to find one in your area.

Set up clothing donation boxes in your area

You will need a way for your business to collect the donated clothing. You can keep a drop off box in the lobby of your office, or leave drop off bins around your neighborhood for people to leave clothes in. Set up a volunteer program for your employees to collect the donated clothing from the bins and drop them off at the charity of your choice.

I recommend: Recycling Bins has large capacity steel bins. Uline sells large bulk cargo containers that you can place in your office lobby to collect donated clothes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If your business involves sending employees outside of the U.S. on a regular basis, you may want to consider collecting international clothing donations too.

Whether you are making business clothing donations or you have children's or young adult clothes to drop off, there are many factors to consider before you make a clothing donation drop off. Who is benefiting from the clothes donation? Will the recipient receive the clothing first hand, or will the clothing be sold and the money donated? When you donate clothes is that money going to a for-profit organization? What tax benefits are there to old clothes donation?

Other factors to consider are whether or not you are going to go to one of the many clothing donation centers or you are going to use one of the clothing donation bins. If you are going to use on of the bins, is the recipient of the clothing clearly marked? If not, be wary of the organization unless you have previously worked with them. Many for-profit organizations have sprung up and have unashamedly taken clothes to turn a profit.

To find out more about clothing donations laws and regulations:

1. Start with federal, state and local laws on clothes donation.

2. Know both sides of the clothes donation story.

3. Find out what the tax benefits are for clothes donation.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Start with clothing donations law

Find out what the laws are surrounding clothing donations.

I recommend: Read up on information posted from the Internal Revenue Service on tax law changes that may affect people and businesses who donate to charity. Read their tips on year-end donations. Get information from The Press of Atlantic City Media Group about how some states are requiring clothing bins to list intended recipients of their clothing donations.

Be aware of both sides of the clothes donation coin

Whether you are the donation taker or the giver, be aware of what is going on in the industry. If you are donating, be mindful of who you are donating to, and if you are receiving, make sure that your bins have the proper permits.

I recommend: According to Newsday.com, find out how some communities are banning commercial groups from soliciting donations through clothing drop-off bins and then turning them around and selling them for a profit. NewJersey.com also offers up helpful information about recent clothing donations laws and regulations information.

Keep up with tax information for when you donate clothing

Stay knowledgeable on what the tax implications are for your clothing donations. This can be applicable on a personal and/or a business level.

I recommend: Access information from Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries to find out information on valuation and tax receipts for donated clothing and items. Charity Guide gives you helpful tax deduction tax information to help you with the valuation of your donated items.