Everyone needs clothing no matter where in the country you may live. It is estimated that the average person in the country spends around $1,900 per year purchasing clothing. Not everyone has that kind of money for clothing, yet they still need some items each year. The good news is that there are programs that provide free and low cost clothing for those who need assistance.
No matter how well you take care of your clothing, there are going to be reasons why you still need more. Some people may grow out of it, lose weight and need smaller sizes, lose items, get stains, or the clothing may wear out and need to be replaced. Some people may also need some new clothing for a job they are starting or for a special occasion. Regardless of the reason, whether you have money or not, you can get some free and low cost clothing.
Where to Get Clothing
For those who need assistance, there are numerous ways to get clothing. There are places you can purchase it at a low cost, such as at thrift stores, and there are places you can get it for free, such as from some charities. Both routes will make it easier for you to obtain the clothing items that you need. From the start, it is a good idea to know what type of clothing it is that you want and need. This way, when you contact a place that offers it you can let them know right away what you need and they can see if they have it available. For example, if you need free work boots to start a job, call around to some of the places and ask if they have any of them available.
Here are some options to consider when it comes to getting clothing for free or low cost:
Thrift stores – There are many thrift stores around the country. Some of them are a little pricy, but there are many that have very affordable rates on their clothing. Look for the thrift stores in your area and see which ones have the best rates on clothing. Some may have bag sales, where you pay one price for the bag and stuff as much as you can into the bag, and others have special days when pricing on the clothing is cheaper. Get to know which stores are offering the best clothing deals so you can take advantage of going on those days.
Churches – Many churches do collection drives to obtain donated items from members of their congregation and the community. They will then take those items and give them away to those who need assistance, or they may sell them in their own church thrift store. Even those churches with thrift stores often still give items away for free to those who need the help. Contact the churches in your area to see if they can help you with obtaining clothing.
Marketplace – The Facebook marketplace is a good place to check for free and low cost clothing. Some people will post bags of clothing in there that are free or one low fee for the whole bag of clothes. They may also list curb alerts, where they have put the bags of clothing out to the road for trash, and they are letting people know about it so that someone can get the items if they need them, before the trash truck arrives.
Salvation Army – This faith-based organization has many locations in the country. They also have thrift stores, where they sell a lot of used clothing. The clothing prices are reasonable and the items have all been donated to them. You can either go there to purchase low cost clothing items, or contact them if you need clothing and cannot afford to pay. They will provide those who need assistance with free clothing. In addition, they have other helpful services, such as providing free food. To get more information, contact a location near you. To find a location in your area, click here.
Catholic Charities – This organization has many locations in the country and they provide a range of helpful services for those in need. They will help people obtain free clothing, as well as food, and shelters. You can contact a location near you to see if they can provide you with clothing. To get more information and find a location in your area, click here.
St. Vincent de Paul – This organization is similar to Catholic Charities and Salvation Army in that they are faith-based and have locations around the country. They provide a range of helpful services for those who need assistance, including providing free clothing. They will help those who need by giving them clothing, and they also have thrift stores around the country, where they sell clothing for affordable rates. Contact one of their locations in your area to see if they have free clothing or if they have a special “bag day” sale at one of their thrift stores. Those who need assistance will likely be given free clothing from the organization. To find a location near you, click here.
211 – No matter what type of financial assistance you need, there is a good chance that by calling this number you will be referred to local resources that can help. The United Way provides this free referral service to everyone in the country. To get more information about the program, click here.
If you need clothing to start a job or your child needs clothing to go to school, contact the counseling office at the nearby college or the school. Most school and college counselors know where you can get some free professional clothing for a job and where kids can get clothing for school. They should be able to point you in the right direction in your area to help you get clothing. Many school counselors also have clothing in their office that they will allow students to take if they are in need.
