Today, like most days I am wearing my worn-out shirt. The conversation that followed with my partner was half-comedy but also a lot of underlying pain, or is it just the weather or the uncertainty of what is to come in 2023?
I have very few clothes and I didn’t even bother to buy something new this past Christmas, a tradition in the Philippines.
To be honest, I don’t really care how I look these days, it also gives me another excuse not to see people, I could always say,
I have nothing to wear.
. . .
What really happens to your clothes after you donate them — Washington Post
I remember when typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) hit the Philippines it was one of the most destructive typhoons to ever hit our country.
It was painful to see what happened the day after it hit land, thousands dead. A government in chaos, and a world ready to offer its help.
And it did. Millions of dollars poured in mostly from countries where Filipinos worked either to take care of someone else’s children, a nurse in their hospital, a cleaner, a teacher, and every imaginable job a Filipino would find in a foreign country because working abroad to many Filipinos is their ticket to a better life.
Aside from money, there were food donations, and volunteers from around the world who came in droves and donated clothes.
But not all of the money, food, and clothes ended up with the survivors. Later on, people found out that canned food had expired, rice that was no longer fit for human consumption was thrown away, and clothes rotted and needed to be incinerated.
Again, a failed government response to a tragedy.
. . .
Donated clothes
In the Philippines, there are a lot of stores selling second-hand clothes, and even in America, people go out of their way to donate clothes to charities which in turn sell them in their stores — as in the case of Goodwill.
But not everything is sold, only 50% of what is donated ends up displayed in stores, some are discarded, and even the ones that were put on display had to be thrown away to give way to new stocks.
It becomes waste.
You will find some good buys in these thrift stores. But like everything in the Philippines, you wonder how these stores sourced their garments. It isn’t too surprising that some of the donations during calamities end up being sold rather than given away for free to the victims.
. . .
To donate or not?
A quick answer would be, to donate. But when we do, are we really helping out clean the environment, or does it help clear our conscience when we click buy on Amazon or Shein or when we are at the mall, shopping for our next OOTD?
And even when first-world countries send their clothes to countries like the Philippines during calamities, while well-intentioned because of corruption, these donated clothes are likely to end up in thrift stores and when they do, this happens —
. . .
Final words
In the Washington Post article, there are many ways to “donate smart.” Like giving your clothes away to people you know, to your church, or a local shelter.
That there is the best time to donate seasonal clothes like winter jackets.
But maybe, we can help the environment better when we buy less. A question to ask the next time you fancy a new dress or t-shirt is,
There are ways to mix and match your outfits. Also, don’t wait until the garment is unusable before you donate it. Don’t wait for years before you give away something in your closet.
I rarely donate any of my clothes, only because after I’m done with them, they get recycled as a rag.
The ones that are still good enough, are not even in the closet. I have a box and in 2023, I plan to have even less stuff.
Am I helping the environment, maybe?
But when I declutter, I am helping myself clear my head.
Thank you for reading.
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This post was previously published on ILLUMINATION.
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