Old Threads for a New Haiti
For the past couple of weeks, I’ve hesitated bringing up Haiti. It’s not because I wanna shy away from everything that’s going on right now, but it’s because there are so many other web sites, service organizations, and groups that are doing amazing things to help the country that I felt they were already publishing, saying, and doing more than I’d be able to do through this particular outlet.
It’s been amazing to watch all of the servitude emerge as people have continued to donate their time and money to help restore the country. Granted, not all of us are in a position to travel or have the money to donate right now. I’d venture to say that many of us have something to donate – even if it’s something as simple as clothing.
Got clothes to donate?
A friend of mine and his small group have put together an organization in the Atlanta-area that is seeking to collect clothing from anyone and everyone that has clothing to donate.
There’s no minimum requirement or limit as to what you can share either. If you’ve only got a shirt and a pair of jeans to share, that’ll suffice. If your wife’s got an entire closet storing old clothing, that’ll work, too. It doesn’t matter what brand, what size, or for whom the clothes were made – anything goes.
What else can you do?
- Get the word out. Visit the Old Threads for a New Haiti website and print out the flyer. Plaster it on the walls of your break room at work. Put it up in the halls of your dorm.
- Share this with your social network. Even if you aren’t donating clothing, help us spread the word on Facebook via your status, Become a Fan, and/or share the site on Twitter.
- Not in the Atlanta area, but have clothes to send? Ship ‘em to Old Threads for a New Haiti, 2409 – B Piedmont Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30324.
This is a really good way for those of us unable to donate as much as we’d like to a country that needs more than we’ll likely ever understand. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact me – I’ll put you in touch with someone that can you help you.
Good cause, Tom. Thumbs up!
I appreciate it, though I definitely can’t take credit for it. I’m all about the cause and am just trying to get the word out as much as possible.
I’ll put up twice as many thumbs as Brett.
D’oh!
How many did he put up? I’m worried about how many phalanges you guys have.
I would like to share a thought that might offend. I have spent some time with a couple that live and serve a community in south America. And this thought really belongs to them. “if you wouldn’t wear it or give it to your kids, don’t give it to us. ”
You may be asking why woould you say that. Well people in north America have a horrible tendancy to think that just because someone is poor they should be willing to accept anything. It ends up being a superiority complex. And if you want to give then give from the heart and not just from your old stuff you don’t care about.
I say this because they just recieved a donation of clothing and these poor farmers they are working with were only able to use about 30% of the clothing donated and most of that wad for work clothes. So if you wouldn’t wear it why would you exspect someone else too
Hey Dan – no worries on being offensive. I’m all for people sharing their opinion. Nate covered most of the ground with his comment, but I did wanna say that I think you do raise a good point.
It’s something people should consider. Not everyone’s trash is another man’s treasure.
Thanks for passing along those comments from your friends in South America Dan. One of the great things about the “Old Threads for a New Haiti” program is that all the donations will be sorted before they get sent by an organization which has been shipping clothes to Haiti for over two years. I think your friends are correct about the quality of donations but fortunately this organization has enough experience to know what will be good to send!
Anything they know can be used in Haiti, including quality warm weather clothing, will be sent to help the earthquake survivors. All remaining donations will be used to help families in the Atlanta area or given to homeless ministries.
While the clothing drive on Feb 6th will take anything you’re willing to donate, some of the best things you can give are good quality clothes that simply don’t fit anymore. If you have children that have grown out of their clothes these are some of the best items you can send.
Thanks Dan!
Great idea and the need is huge…almost overwhelming.
Agreed. Thanks for helping spread the word, too.