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One
person's trash is
another
person's treasure
Hello
Everyone, I am Ramesh Haridas Sampat, Founder of donate-your-old-clothes.org
I
have been thinking about a very simple thing. What do we do with our
clothes and shoes when they get worn out and we don’t want to
wear them any more? Well, we throw them away, don’t we? Everyone
has clothes, shoes and many other personal items that at some point
they don’t want to use any more. What do people do with those
things? Yes, they are just sitting there collecting dust and some day
they all go to trash.
Think
about it. What did you do the last time you had a pile of things you
didn’t want any more? What are you going to do with the things
you have right now that you don’t want to use any more? Same
thing. Those things are going to sit in your closet until you get
sick of them and then you are going to throw them away.
Now,
if we can organize a system whereby we collect all those personal
items that people are going to throw away and give them to people who
can use them, people who don’t have those basic things, imagine
if we can do that, then everyone in the world will have clothes and
shoes to wear. Imagine, if we can do that, there will be no adult or
child anywhere in the world without clothes or shoes.
That
is what we do
That
is what we have started doing here at donate-your-old-clothes.org
We are accepting from the public used personal items that they no
longer use and sending them to poor people in India, Africa and other
countries. Personal items like clothes, shoes, socks, underwears,
items of personal hygiene, bed sheets, pillow covers, comforters,
blankets. We accept personal items only. We do not accept household
items like electronics or furniture.
It
is a very simple thing. But its benefit is miraculous. In rich
countries everyone has old clothes, shoes and other personal items
that they are not using any more. People are always buying new things
and throwing away the old ones. So everyone always has old clothes
and shoes they can donate. These are things poor people in third
world countries don't have, things they can use. All it takes is
volunteers to set up collection centers to collect these items, pack
them and ship them to the needy people. A few volunteers can manage a
collection center and collect enough items to help a large number of
poor people.
Very
simple. Very easy to do. And it gives to poor people one of the
basic things every human being needs, clothes and shoes to wear.
If
you like to get involved and do your part, together we will help
millions of poor people in third world countries. All you need to do
is a few friends get together and open a collection center in your
area. We will help you get started. We will guide you at every step.
You pick the country you want to help. We will give you contacts of
non-profit groups in that country. The clothes, shoes and other items
you collect from the public, you ship to them direct. You stay in
direct contact with them.
We
will give you all the support you need, whenever you need it. The
support is free. This is a global program. We are all involved in
helping the poor. Everyone who is involved is providing guidance and
support to everyone else who wants to get involved. We are all doing
this together. Together we will help millions of poor people in third
world countries.
Together
we can change the world
As
we all know, there are three basic human needs, food, clothes and
shelter. If we can collect clothes and shoes and give to poor people,
we will fulfill one of the three basic needs. Every adult and every
child in this world will have clothes and shoes. There will be no
adult or child anywhere in the world without clothes or shoes. And to
do this we are not giving up any of our luxury or comfort. We are not
sacrificing anything. These are things that we don’t want to use
any more. We are going to throw them away. The only thing we are
doing is, instead of throwing them away, we are giving them to people
who can use them. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.
To
change the world, to make the world a better place, we think it is
too big, too difficult, too complicated. We think we can only improve
little bit here and there but we can’t change the whole world,
we think that is impossible, that will never happen. But the way I
see it, it is very simple and very easy and it is very much within
our reach. The only thing we need to do is remember that when we
don’t need something, when we are not going to use it any more,
instead of throwing it away, give it to someone who can use it. If we
can do this simple thing we can change the world. We can make this
world a better place for everyone. I believe this from the deepest
core of my heart. If you can believe what I believe, if you can see
what I am seeing and if we all put our efforts together, then
together we can make it happen. Great Rishis of the Hindu tradition
and wise men of all cultures have said this time and again, “If
we can imagine it, we can achieve it.”
Choose
Your Role
Choose
your own role. Make a difference in your own individual way. Here
are some suggestions.
If
you are in a Rich Country
Open
a Collection Center
It
is very simple and very easy to do. All you need is a small space
and a few volunteers. We will help you get started. You will be an
independent organization and work independently. You choose the
country or countries you want to help. We will give you contacts of
non-profit groups in those countries. You can also make your own
contacts. The clothes, shoes and other items you collect from the
public, you ship to them direct. You stay in direct contact with them.
You
can work alone and handle all your work yourself or you can share
the work with another organization in your area. You can do the first
part or the second part. (1) You run the collection center. You
deliver everything you collect to another organization in your area
or they will pick-up from you. (2) They will do the shipping.
We
will provide guidance and support whenever you need it. The support
is free of cost. This is a global program. We are all involved in
helping the poor. Everyone who is involved is providing guidance and
support to everyone else who wants to be involved. Together we will
help millions of poor people in third world countries.
If
you are seriously interested, think about the questions that are
arising in your mind right now. Think about the things you will do
when you get involved. Then write to us. We will be glad to hear from you.
_____________________________
To
help volunteers open a collection center in your area, if you can
provide, rent free for one year, a small room, garage, storage space
or if you can pay rent for one year for such a space.
If
you own a retail business, any kind of retail business, and you open
a collection center at your store (doesn't require much space, back
of the store would be fine) it will create a lot of goodwill, give
you a lot of free publicity and help your business a whole lot.
If
there is no collection center in your area, it would be nice if you
can parcel your donation to the nearest center. UPS Ground doesn't
cost much.
You
can volunteer to help run a collection center.
You
can become a volunteer on our support team and help with a variety
of work: reply people's emails, answer Qs, provide info, provide
guidance to people involved in collection and distribution. If you
can do this for one hour a day, 3-4 days a week, that would be great.
You can do this from anywhere in the world.
If
you like to donate cash to help pay for storage, packaging and
shipping, please give or send your donation to the collection center
in your area. If there is no center in your area then please send it
through PayPal to expenses@donate-your-old-clothes.org We are
using this money to pay for storage, packaging, shipping and other
expenses. We are not using it to help the poor in any other way.
You
can write to your local newspapers. You can call and talk live on
your local radio/tv stations. You can make videos and put them on
YouTube, MySpace.
You
can send emails to people, write blogs, discuss in chat rooms and
many other things. Anything you do to spread this message will be a
big help to poor people in third world countries.
_____________________________________
Religious
Organizations
have
a major role
All
religions believe that helping the poor is a form of worship. We are
serving God when we are helping the poor. As such, collecting old
clothes and sending them to poor people can be a part of all your
other activities.
Open
a collection center at your place of worship, Mandir, Masjid,
Gurudwara, Church, Your Shrine. It is very simple, very easy to do. A
few volunteers can easily manage the collection center. You will be
able to help thousands of poor people. Once you start doing it, you
will see that you are able to do much more than you had thought possible.
You
choose the country or countries you want to help. We will gladly
give you contacts of non-profit orgs in those countries. The clothes.
shoes and all other items you collect at your collection center, you
ship to them direct. You work with them direct.
You
can work alone and handle all your work yourself or you can share
the work with another organization in your area. You can do the first
part or the second part. (1) You run the collection center at your
place of worship. You deliver everything you collect to another
organization in your area or they will pick-up from you. (2) They
will do the shipping.
For
Qs or to join the program, please contact: support-team@donate-your-old-clothes.org
Goodwill
Ambassadors
We
are planning to work in close cooperation with Temples of Worship of
all religions around the world, Mandirs, Masjids, Gurudwaras, Churches.
It is not possible for us alone to reach and to stay in regular
contact with every organization everywhere. So we are seeking
participation of responsible matured individuals everywhere.
As
our Goodwill Ambassador you would assist us in the important work of
staying in regular contact with organizations in your area. We do not
have any agenda. We are not seeking any members or any donation or
anything else. We are only collecting old clothes and shoes in rich
countries and sending them to poor people in poor countries. Every
organization will choose their role and do their part independently.
Your purpose would be only to stay in regular contact for mutual
cooperation in this charity work.
This
is honorary work. There is no pay or perks.
If
you feel strongly that you would like to devote your time and energy
to participate in our work, we welcome you. Please introduce yourself
and also send us your recent photo or introduce yourself in video. We
would like to know you. Thank you.
support-team@donate-your-old-clothes.org
___________________________________
If
you are in India, Africa, any Poor Country:
If
you are a non-profit org (NGO) of any size and if you can properly
manage a small distribution center in your neighborhood OR if you are
a big well organized NGO and you can properly manage a Regional
Distribution Center, please introduce your organization.
With
the distribution center you must also run a collection center.
Collect personal items from rich and middle class people in your
area. We will send you items we collect in foreign countries.
___________________________
Rich
or Poor, Your Qs, comments, suggestions are always welcome. We are
all doing this together. We are all partners in this global karma.
support-team@donate-your-old-clothes.org
____________________________
Believe
it or not,
if
you share this message with 10 people
you
will be helping 100 poor families.
If
you share it with 100 people
you
will be helping 1000 poor families.
And,
believe it or not,
when
you help others,
good
things happen in your life.
It
is a positive energy cycle,
everyday
you do something to help others,
everyday
good things happen to you.
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