Honoring every donation

We make sure every usable item goes straight to our Free Clothing Events, where shoppers can choose what they need with dignity. A small portion of donations that we can’t use are redirected responsibly for reuse or recycling, supporting our commitment to sustainability.

Purpose

Community Clothing Closet (CCC) exists to redistribute clothing and essential items directly to individuals and families in our community at no cost. To protect donor intent, maintain trust, and ensure equitable access, CCC maintains a strict No Resale Policy for all in‑kind donations.

Policy Statement

All items donated to CCC are prohibited from being resold. Donated items are used solely within CCC’s free distribution programs and partner channels that serve community members in need.

Rationale

This policy ensures that:

  • Donor intent is honored: contributions support families directly, not private profit.

  • Community trust is protected: donors and partners can rely on CCC’s integrity.

  • Equity is maintained: items are distributed without financial barriers.

  • Mission alignment is upheld: CCC is a redistribution program, not a resale operation.

Volunteer & Partner Expectations

Volunteers, staff, and partner organizations must adhere to this policy at all times. Violation of this policy may result in removal from volunteer roles, termination of partnership agreements, or other corrective action as determined by CCC leadership.

Exceptions

CCC is committed to honoring donor intent by ensuring all usable items are redistributed directly to community members at no cost. However, some donated items cannot be offered at CCC events due to condition, safety, suitability, or volume.

In these cases, CCC may responsibly redirect unusable or excess items to local recycling partners or thrift stores. This exception applies only when:

  • Items are not appropriate for CCC’s distribution channels (e.g., damaged, mismatched, unsafe, unwanted by shoppers, heavily worn, etc).

  • Items are received in quantities that exceed CCC’s ability to distribute (e.g., large volumes of specialty women’s shoes such as high heels or sandals).

  • Items that cannot be offered at CCC events without compromising quality or dignity (e.g., inappropriate items for family-friendly events).

Redirected items are donated solely for reuse or recycling. CCC does not receive payment, credit, or any financial benefit from these transfers.

This exception ensures CCC maintains high standards of dignity, stewards donor contributions responsibly, and prevents usable materials from entering the waste stream whenever possible.