Where To Donate Used & Old Bras To Make A Difference

Your bras are there for you when you need them. They help your LBD fit exactly as it should, support you through every yoga pose, and keep you comfortable during long workdays. But when those bras have outlived their usefulness for you, pass on the favor by donating them to women in need.

Bras are more than just an everyday essential; they also provide women with dignity and protection. You know the feeling when you realize you forgot to pack bras for your trip. Though it may seem like a temporary inconvenience to us, a significant number of women are without bras on a daily basis.

We're the largest donor of undergarments in the US. Through year-round partnerships with organizations like I Support the Girls and Soles4Souls, we've distributed over $50 million in product to women who need it most — keeping product out of landfills and putting it where it matters. Want to join us in supporting fellow women but unsure where to donate used bras? There may be an organization that accepts gently worn bras right in your neighborhood. Just be sure to wash them and ensure they aren't falling apart before sending them off to their new owners. In case your bra can't be worn again, there are several other organizations that are bra recyclers and utilize bra materials to do good.

Donating bras is easy, reduces waste, and helps support women everywhere. Added bonus? Many bra donation services will even send you a tax deduction receipt. Talk about a win-win. Read below to see where to donate bras — and what to do with old underwear!

Why Donating Bras Matters

Bras are not just a luxury for women. A good bra takes stress off shoulders and back. It helps with sagging tissue, lift, and support. It improves posture and fosters confidence. Passing on your gently used bras to women who can also enjoy those benefits just makes sense.

Not only will you be providing them with an opportunity to regain their dignity, many women have gone on to enrich their own lives. Confident women are unstoppable women.

Here are a few ways to donate used bras near you.

Where can you donate old bras?

1. I Support the Girls

I Support the Girls is a Thirdlove partner who collects and distributes new and gently worn bras and menstrual hygiene products around the world. The non-profit sends its donations to women and girls in homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, refugee settlement homes, foster care agencies, LGBTQ agencies, homes for pregnant teens, and more.

With 48 North American affiliates and four worldwide (Australia, Canada, Philippines, and Pakistan), I Support the Girls has donated over 37M products since 2015. Learn more about how to donate here.

2. Thirdlove's Take Back Bag program

Unfortunately, if your bra is heavily used and damaged, it can't be donated to programs like I Support the Girls as they are looking for gently used bras in good condition. If you have an assortment of used bras that you need to donate and recycle, Thirdlove's Take Back Bag program offers an easy, sustainable way to keep these bras and undies out of landfills.

The process is simple: Just order a Take Back Bag, fill it up with old bras and underwear, and send it back. And, voila, not only have you kept the items out of landfills, but you also earn credit to use on your next bra purchase with Thirdlove.

The program will sort through the items you sent back: 74 percent are reused, 15 to 22 percent, which don't qualify for reuse, go back to fiber recycling and 5 to 10 percent is true trash sent to a responsibly managed landfill. Each Take Back Bag saves 1596 gallons of water, 151 pounds of C02 emissions, and 15 pounds of fashion waste from landfills!

3. Local Shelters

Want to be sure your used bras go to women in your community? Cut out the middle woman and bring them directly to women in need. Just one person can make a huge impact. One Maryland woman asked her friends and families to give her their used bras; within one year, she had distributed 20,000 bras to homeless women.

Contact local domestic violence shelters and homeless shelters to ask whether bra donations would be welcomed. You'll likely hear a resounding “yes” from everyone. Women in these shelters often receive clothing donations, but few people think to donate bras.

The Bra Recyclers

If you are a small lingerie business looking for ways to deal with your overstock, customers returns or damages and increase your brand reputation, The Bra Recyclers could be the solution for you. On a mission to help girls and women lead a life with dignity, they partner with businesses and retailers to donate or recycle their inventory.

You will be reducing waste and supporting small businesses and families in need. Best of all, you will be making a positive environmental impact by recycling textiles, further ensuring your commitment to a sustainable future for your community.

How to prepare your bras for donation.

Bras that are unusable or ripped can be recycled. However, before you donate your gently used bras, here are a few tips.

• Hand wash all bras. Pay a little extra attention to the band and wired areas.

• Reshape and air dry. This helps the fabric and elastic to maintain its structure.

• Organize by size, fold neatly and donate according to the preferences of your chosen charity.

Your old bras can find new life and help women in need.

Does Goodwill take bras?

Though donation guidelines vary by location, some may accept and sell clean, gently worn bras in their stores. Contact your local Goodwill to see if bras are an approved item are on their list.

And don't stop at your own bedroom door! If you're willing to donate your bras, chances are good that your relatives and friends would be willing to do the same. Post a message on social media asking for donations, then handle the collection and drop-off at a local shelter. Your old unmentionables could make a huge impact.

Can you donate underwear?

While used underwear donations are widely unaccepted (understandably), they don't have to go to complete waste. Here are a couple options to consider:

• 100% cotton underwear is compostable! Simply cut off the elastic band and toss it in the compost bin.

• USAgain dropboxes take both used underwear and bras. Any items that aren't in wearable condition are recycled into insulation material, wiping rags, and furniture padding.

With additional reporting by Emily Piskulick