Where are the clothes in your neighborhood?

Cold weather is coming and I sometimes look back on the varying time periods service delivery was positive and negative on the part of service providers over the years of people experiencing homelessness.

I've seen points where companies were proactive finding solutions to storing items donated. I've seen at times them arrange for third parties with thrift stores to accept them in trade for sending clients of the original with clothing vouchers.

I've also seen employees walk out the back door with armloads of items claimed to be going to people moved out...when it wasn't so and for their own consumption.

This year with the cold coming up, by all means DO consider Hats and Caps for people less fortunate. But at the same time don't be intimidated or fall into feeling guilty when asking what people do to get things into the hands of others intended on your part.

Will these items be given directly to people staying at your agency?

One misconception many have regarding 'third party' agreements where one agency pushes off items to another in trade for the first agency's clients to receive clothes at the second's thrift store...oh, it happens...but not the way you think.

The good donated items are BOUGHT by people for the thrift store to make money.

What's usually left for the homeless to select from...it usually looks like it was worn by someone homeless to begin with.

Think about it. Worse case, you can always drive up to a shelter of your choice and hand out items directly to passers by.

At least you'll know where your things are really going. And trust me...I 'have' seen thrift stores that resell their unsold items for overseas sales. When that happens, you can bet someone made some money...sending bales of clothes overseas doesn't come cheap!