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spring cleaning tips - donate clothes
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Sustainable & Trustworthy Disaster Relief

sustainable disaster relief - donating clothes, money, and more

Unexpected Disasters

Disasters happen. When they happen, no one cares about the cause, or the politics, or the insensitive people who take advantage of the situation. There are real people suffering, afraid, and in need. The most frightening outcome of all – people losing their lives – becomes a reality. In times like these, we all want to know what we can do in order to help the people that have been displaced by the natural disaster.

Hurricane Harvey has caused a lot of damage along the gulf coast in Texas – Houston, the greater Houston area, Port Arthur, and more. Several people have died. Those that are able to get away may not be able to get back. Those stranded in their city but away from their home generally only have the clothes on their backs.

Sustainable Disaster Relief

  • Donate items that you no longer use like clothes & shoes that you and your family members have outgrown
  • Donate cloth diapers if people are in a place where they can access a washer and dryer
While donating gently used clothes is a great method of reuse and can be seen as sustainable, the reality is that most immediate disaster relief funds and programs need money. Items like gently used clothes and home appliances will come in handy later when people who have been displaced need them in the places they have been relocated to. If you have items to give but there is nowhere to donate them at this time, sell them at your local consignment shop and donate the proceeds to a trusted relief program (see below).
I was able to give my clothes directly to those who have been affected because many of them are temporarily making Dallas their home. When it comes to donating items, ask what is needed before you do so. Purchasing a package of bottled water that has no way of getting to the disaster area would be neither sustainable nor beneficial.

Where to donate items:

  • Local churches
  • Local organizations that are assisting people who have been located due to the disaster

Safely donating money:

To safely donate money, Charity Navigator is a website to check to see if the places you want to donate your money are legitimate, safe, and actually helping those in need. This site also has an area that is specific to charities for Hurricane Harvey victims. This Forbes article also details several ways to make safe and smart donations during disasters like Hurricane Harvey. 

For this specific disaster, Hurricane Harvey, there are a few funds that have been set up:

Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund – this was established by the Greater Houston Community Foundation and donations are tax deductible.

United Way of Greater Houston – you can donate to the United Way Flood Relief Fund at their website or by texting UWFLOOD to 41444.

Houston SPCA – the SPCA of Texas is asking for foster homes for pets, financial donations, and in-kind donations such as cat litter, crates, toys, treats, beds, and gift cards.

J.J. Watt’s Fundraiser – Houston Texans football player J.J. Watts has set up a fundraiser through You Caring. It has reached over $1 million in donations in less than one week.

Continue to Donate

There will be lasting effects as a result of any natural disaster. Some people will never be able to return home, people will need jobs and help in new locations, the affected area will need volunteers once it is safe to return, and donations will be required for a long time. Follow the stories and be vigilant about what will be needed not just now, but in the months and years to come. Don’t let the newness of a disaster be the only reason you care. Continue caring and giving as you are able to help those in need. No matter how you choose to give – whether its a prayer or $25,000 – what you do matters. Let’s continue to rally around those on the gulf coast who have been affected by Hurricane Harvey. Let us always do the same in any disaster.

xoxo dolls & dudes,

Addie

TAGS:J.J. WattsPort Arthur
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The Comments

  • Minimalism - From Fear to Acceptance — Old World New
    September 13, 2017

    […] into perspective for me. I’m even counting AFTER I gave a lot of things away during a disaster relief clothing drive. I’m honestly afraid to see how many items I own, but I’m excited […]

    Reply
  • Minimalism - From Fear to Acceptance — Old World New
    June 4, 2018

    […] things into perspective for me. I’m even counting AFTER I gave a lot of things away during a disaster relief clothing drive. I’m honestly afraid to see how many items I own, but I’m excited to […]

    Reply

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Hello from the garden today. Lots of visitors probably due to the heavy rains.
Hello from the garden today. Lots of visitors probably due to the heavy rains.
Hello from the garden today. Lots of visitors probably due to the heavy rains.
Hello from the garden today. Lots of visitors probably due to the heavy rains.
Hello from the garden today. Lots of visitors probably due to the heavy rains.
oldworldnew
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Hello from the garden today. Lots of visitors probably due to the heavy rains.
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
1/5
Happy Earth Day 🌍🫶🏾🌱

I used to think “let me just get 5k followers.. 10k followers… one day I’ll have 20k followers…” to help people live more sustainably with the blog posts and social media posts I created. 10+ years of that led to burnout. And it never felt the same as when my friends and family started to live a little more sustainably because of something they learned from me. 

I hope you’ll be the inspiration for someone in your life to be a little bit more sustainable today. It’s such a good feeling to see the people closest to you thrift more, consume less, and think differently — more sustainably — about how we treat our world. 

Don’t push it, just live it. 

Happy Earth Day 🌍🫶🏾🌱
oldworldnew
oldworldnew
•
Follow
Happy Earth Day 🌍🫶🏾🌱 I used to think “let me just get 5k followers.. 10k followers… one day I’ll have 20k followers…” to help people live more sustainably with the blog posts and social media posts I created. 10+ years of that led to burnout. And it never felt the same as when my friends and family started to live a little more sustainably because of something they learned from me. I hope you’ll be the inspiration for someone in your life to be a little bit more sustainable today. It’s such a good feeling to see the people closest to you thrift more, consume less, and think differently — more sustainably — about how we treat our world. Don’t push it, just live it. Happy Earth Day 🌍🫶🏾🌱
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
2/5
🥶❌🌱 Not my plant babies! 

It’s been cold in Texas the past few days, so I acted accordingly to protect my little backyard garden that’s barely underway. 

Using thrifted sheets (once back drops in my “thrift fashionista style content” days lol) and thrifted clothes pins (I knew they would come in handy! 😆🙌🏾), as well as some old jugs, bottles, containers, and twigs. Hopefully they help keep the plants from getting too cold to survive.
oldworldnew
oldworldnew
•
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🥶❌🌱 Not my plant babies! It’s been cold in Texas the past few days, so I acted accordingly to protect my little backyard garden that’s barely underway. Using thrifted sheets (once back drops in my “thrift fashionista style content” days lol) and thrifted clothes pins (I knew they would come in handy! 😆🙌🏾), as well as some old jugs, bottles, containers, and twigs. Hopefully they help keep the plants from getting too cold to survive.
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
3/5
Finally got a migrating bird LIGHTS OUT sign 🤩

Turn off your lights (outdoor & indoor) to limit light pollution and to protect migrating birds 🫶🏾🕊️

TURN ‘EM OFF! (in my Teddy Pendergrass voice 😂)

#lightsouttexas #lightsout #lightpollution #migratorybirds
oldworldnew
oldworldnew
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Follow
Finally got a migrating bird LIGHTS OUT sign 🤩 Turn off your lights (outdoor & indoor) to limit light pollution and to protect migrating birds 🫶🏾🕊️ TURN ‘EM OFF! (in my Teddy Pendergrass voice 😂) #lightsouttexas #lightsout #lightpollution #migratorybirds
2 months ago
View on Instagram |
4/5
Do you reuse gift wrap?

Here are some things that I’ve thrifted to reuse as gift wrap each holiday season:

⭐️ tablecloths
⭐️ napkins & handkerchiefs (matching napkins sewn together can be used for larger gifts)
⭐️ Scarves (like from @wrappr)
⭐️ Cloth bags (like the ones your sheet sets come in)
⭐️ Pillowcases
⭐️ Curtains (can be used as gift wrap or to cover larger gifts like bikes or toy kitchens)

As long as you can fold the fabric into a square before wrapping the gift, it works well when using the furoshiki style wrapping technique. 

Comment WRAP for a few tips and tricks to wrap gifts in cloth fabric.
oldworldnew
oldworldnew
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Do you reuse gift wrap? Here are some things that I’ve thrifted to reuse as gift wrap each holiday season: ⭐️ tablecloths ⭐️ napkins & handkerchiefs (matching napkins sewn together can be used for larger gifts) ⭐️ Scarves (like from @wrappr) ⭐️ Cloth bags (like the ones your sheet sets come in) ⭐️ Pillowcases ⭐️ Curtains (can be used as gift wrap or to cover larger gifts like bikes or toy kitchens) As long as you can fold the fabric into a square before wrapping the gift, it works well when using the furoshiki style wrapping technique. Comment WRAP for a few tips and tricks to wrap gifts in cloth fabric.
5 months ago
View on Instagram |
5/5
@oldworldnew

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