Curious about NGOs for clothes donation? You are a planet savior because:
- Nearly 16 million tons of textile waste are produced annually.
- About 25% of clothing waste is incinerated while 57% is sent to landfills.
- Only 8% of old clothes are reused, and 10% are recycled worldwide.
Fast fashion waste especially contributes to pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, water depletion, and habitat destruction, exacerbating environmental crises due to excessive disposal and resource consumption.
To make clothes donation and recycling easier for people like you, Helplocal presents the best NGOs and social organizations active in India working towards repurposing old clothes and giving them a renewed life.
So, let’s start our list of NGOs for recycling and donating old clothes:
NGOs for Clothes Donation in India
Goonj:
Goonj is one of India’s most impactful social enterprises, using clothing as a tool for community-driven development. Instead of simply giving away clothes, they use a unique model called ‘Cloth for Work’, where rural communities undertake local development projects like repairing roads, building schools, or cleaning public spaces in exchange for donated clothes and other materials.
This approach by NGO cloth donation preserves dignity and ensures that aid is not seen as charity but as a resource earned through effort. Their extensive network spans across India, ensuring donations reach remote areas where help is most needed.
Wishing Well
A Mumbai-based organization that acts as a bridge between donors and NGOs, ensuring clothes, books, and other essentials reach underprivileged communities. They carefully assess the requirements of each NGO they work with, preventing overstocking and ensuring donations are both relevant and useful. Wishing Well, a leading NGO for cloth donation, collaborates with orphanages, old-age homes, hospitals, and shelters for the homeless, making sure that each donated clothes find a suitable recipient.
Additionally, Wishing Well also sources school supplies, toys, and even furniture, making it easy for individuals and corporate groups to support marginalized communities in a meaningful way.
Clothes Box Foundation
This innovative NGO for cloth donation brings transparency to the donation process, allowing donors to track their contributions through social media updates. Clothes Box Foundation collects used clothes, cleans and refurbishes them, and then distributes them across rural areas, orphanages, and underprivileged schools.
Their main focus is to provide clean, wearable, and dignified clothing to children, women, and families struggling with poverty. By sharing real-time updates and stories about the people receiving donations, they create a sense of accountability and encourage more people to contribute.
Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust
Based in Mumbai, Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust operates a Garment Project that distributes donated clothes to slum dwellers, disaster victims, and orphanages. NGO for cloth donation carefully sorts clothes by size, gender, and type before distributing them, ensuring that recipients get items that suit their needs. Ratna Nidhi Charitable Trust is particularly active in Mumbai and also supports mobility initiatives for people with disabilities.
Green Yatra
A non-profit organization dedicated to environmental conservation, Green Yatra promotes the reuse of clothing to minimize waste and reduce the environmental impact of textile production. The cloth donation NGO collects used clothes and distributes them in urban slums and rural areas while educating communities about sustainability.
This NGO for clothes donation also conducts awareness programs on environmental issues and recycling.
Recommended reading: 7 ways to help during a natural disaster
Share At Door Step (SADS)
Share At Door Step makes donating effortless. Their doorstep pickup service allows individuals to schedule a donation pickup, after which the collected clothes, toys, shoes, and household essentials are delivered to trusted NGOs. They partner with various orphanages, elderly care homes, and community shelters, ensuring that donations reach genuine recipients.
SADS operates in multiple Indian cities and also offers corporate donation drives, helping businesses contribute to social causes without logistical hassles.
Check out this video for more clothes donation recommendations and ideas:
SERUDS India
Based in Andhra Pradesh, cloth donation NGO SERUDS India supports vulnerable populations, including orphaned children, elderly people, and women in crisis. The NGO accepts donations of clothes, books, and other essentials, ensuring they reach those most in need.
SERUDS also operates shelters for the elderly and food distribution programs for disadvantaged communities.
Uday Foundation
Based in Delhi, Uday Foundation is deeply involved in healthcare, disaster relief, and social welfare. One of their key initiatives is to donate Winter Clothes Drive, which provides blankets, warm clothes, and woolens to homeless individuals and low-income families struggling to survive in the cold.
In addition, they support patients in government hospitals by providing clothing, nutritious meals, and basic hygiene kits. Their work extends to children battling serious illnesses, ensuring that young patients in hospitals have access to comfortable clothing and emotional support.
Bal Anand
Bal Anand is a children’s welfare organization in Mumbai that provides essential support to orphaned and disadvantaged kids. They accept donations of clothes, books, stationery, and toys, ensuring that the children in their care have everything they need for a comfortable and happy childhood.
Apart from providing shelter, they focus on education and emotional well-being, helping children build a better future. A great place to donate your old clothes!
Discover education NGOs in India
I Was A Sari
I Was A Sari is a unique social enterprise that takes old saris and turns them into fashionable garments, accessories, and home decor items. The best part? They employ underprivileged women, training them in sewing and design so they can earn a sustainable income.
By making a cloth donation of your old saris, you’re not only recycling fabric but also helping women gain financial independence and build a better life.
Smart Bazaar by Reliance
A lot of Reliance supermarkets have a donation spot where you can drop clothes, toys supplies, and other donation-worthy items. This is probably the easiest way to get your old clothes to do some good!
NGOs for Recycling Old Clothes: Wrapup
The issue of textile waste is undeniably pressing, but as highlighted, there are numerous NGO, nonprofits, and social organizations actively working to combat it. By choosing to donate, recycle, or repurpose old clothes, you can play a crucial role in reducing waste, minimizing environmental harm, and supporting underprivileged communities.
These NGOs and social enterprises not only provide sustainable solutions but also ensure that clothing donations lead to meaningful change. With collective effort and increased awareness, we can shift from a culture of waste to one of responsible consumption.
Do you wish to add another tip or cue to our ‘10 NGOs for recycling and repurposing used clothes’ blog? Drop the same in the comments section and we will consider it for adding to the list!
If you wish to support NGOs or social groups doing great work in India? We recommend checking out these NGOs for differently abled.
We also recommend checking out these blogs:
Differently abled children statistics and data
Free education for poor children
Top NGOs in India working for disaster management
Kaavya Bhatt
Kaavya is a 14-year-old, budding change maker passionate about tackling societal issues creatively and trying to do her bit for the world today. She has a keen affinity for reading, research, the culinary arts, and traveling. Get in touch with Kaavya on bhatt.kaavya24@gmail.com
