How to Donate Clothing to a Women's Shelter

The most common method of donating your old clothing is to simply drop off your garments at a large thrift store such as the Goodwill or the Salvation Army. However, giving clothing directly to those in need by finding a specific donation center, such as a women's shelter, can be far more gratifying.

Choose new or used clothing items to donate to a women's shelter. From baby clothes to business suits, don't limit your donations. Many women in shelters have left everything behind and need to start a wardrobe from the bottom up. Additionally, shelters often help women to find employment, so dressy clothing that can be worn to a job interview is always welcome.

Contact local shelters directly whenever possible to ask them about procedures for donating clothing. Some shelters may have specific rules about donations, such as the type of items accepted, hours donations are accepted and more.

Call your local Department of Human Services (DHS) if you have trouble finding a women's shelter. Many of these shelters are kept secret to protect the women from abusive situations; however, DHS often has a list of the shelters and can help you with the pertinent contact information without disclosing the location.

Ask at local churches about how to donate to women in need. Many women's shelters are in regular contact with and receive funding from religious groups. Local churches can often give you information on how to make a donation, or will even accept and deliver the donations for the shelter themselves.