The philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer once said, “Compassion is the basis of morality.” In order to be morally righteous, we must help others. This is partly why charitable donations of clothes and other goods are so important, but there are a few other reasons why clothing donations matter.

Here’s a short list explaining how donations have a more profound impact than you’d think.

Clothe Those Who Can’t Afford to Clothe Themselves.

Perhaps the most obvious benefit, local clothing donations are one of the only ways the disadvantaged and homeless can cloth themselves. This is particularly important during the colder months of the year, as about 700 homeless people annually die from hypothermia.

Support Good Causes.

Your local clothing donations do more than put shirts on peoples’ backs. Charities use the capital generated from selling the gently used clothes they receive to fund good causes such as soup kitchens, educational workshops, free clinics, homeless shelters, rehab centers, family services, and more.

Help the Environment.

Believe it or not, your local clothing donations are also good for the earth. Think about it–if people are buying used clothes, that means they’re not buying new clothes. It means less resources go to waste, needlessly winding up in landfills. It also means manufacturers make fewer new clothes, conserving the resources consumed in the creation of new textiles and also limiting the damage that manufacturing processes do to the environment as well. Local clothing donations are just like recycling your old bottles and newspapers.

These are just a few of the benefits of donating your clothes. The most important reason to make charitable contributions, though, is because it’s the right thing to do. Compassion is, as said, the very basis of morality. In order to make this world a better place and to create a fully functioning society, we need to help each other out. If you have any questions about local clothing donations, feel free to ask in the comments.