CLOTHING • Need for donations will return
The kind of instant gratification represented by so much of fast fashion increasingly seems simply wasteful. Understanding what you have that has lasted (and why it has lasted) will help you make better decisions later.
Things you can do
Hold onto your donations until shelter-in-place is over. Elizabeth Koke, the creative director of Housing Works in New York City, wrote in an email that people should hold onto their items to donate once the shelter-inplace orders are lifted.
“Even though they aren’t able to drop off their donations at this time, they should know that they are still supporting lifesaving services by keeping a donation pile for us in their homes. We’ll be very grateful to accept their goods when we resume retail operations and will need their support more than ever.”
Dress for Success, a nonprofit that helps women achieve economic independence via job placement, is still working with clients remotely, but in-person clothing donations have been “temporarily halted,” according to a company spokeswoman, as have donations from retail partners. She added, however, that once people feel free to return to their daily activities, there will be an even greater need for new donations.
Do your research. In San Diego County, all Goodwill outlets and donation stores are temporarily closed. On the local website, sdgoodwill.org, the organization asks that you hold on to your donations until outlets are able to reopen.
Thredup, the online resale community, which takes donation “clean-out kits” — they send you a bag, you fill it with your castoffs and send it back, and whatever Thredup can resell, it resells, with the money going to a charity — is still operating, with a special focus on supporting the Feeding America food banks. Every bag is taking longer to process, said James Reinhart, the chief executive, because of a reduced workforce and safety precautions that have been taken for the employees.
As for the actual clothes, Reinhart said the process has not changed. “With transit times (seven to 10 days) and processing times (an additional 14 to 30 days), all the available data says zero chance the virus can live on clothing/plastic for long enough to be an issue,” he emailed. Cleaning is still up to the purchaser.
Most textile recycling operations are also on hold.
Donate essential items. The Salvation Army, the country’s largest social service provider, is considered an essential operation. They are prioritizing donations of:
• nonperishable food items
• paper products
• baby supplies
• hygiene products
• cleaning and sanitizing items
Because this is happening on a case-by-case basis, check the status of donations in your area at satruck.org.
Friedman writes for The New York Times.
Kitchen island with butcher block
Made of hardwood with a rich navy finish, this Emma Kitchen Island from Cost Plus World Markets features a durable butcher-block countertop for food prep and serving.
Beneath the work surface are two drawers for serveware and four doors that open up to compartments for cookware. It includes locking casters and solid-wood feet for your choice of mobility or stability. The island measures 42 inches wide, 18 inches deep and 361⁄2 inches high.
Priced at $649.99, it’s available only online at Worldmarket.com.
Metal chandelier in four finishes
West Elm’s Sculptural Metal 3-Light Chandeliers has a sleek custom look and is height adjustable. Use it in a hallway, entry or dining room.
The chandelier is hardwired and has metal shades. Shown here in an antique bronze finish, it’s also available in gray, white and antique brass.
The chandelier is $359. Learn more online at Westelm.com.