Clothing Donations
One Donation. Limitless Impact.
YWCA Oʻahu welcomes donations of new and gently used women’s apparel, shoes, handbags, jewelry, accessories, and select textiles.
Every donation is thoughtfully reviewed to determine how it can best support YWCA Oahu’s mission and programs. Depending on the item, your donation may help a woman prepare for employment, provide hands-on workforce development experience, be creatively repurposed, or generate revenue that supports programs and services for women in our community.
Donated apparel and accessories are first considered for Dress for Success Honolulu client needs and other YWCA Oʻahu program needs. Unrestricted items not needed for client services may be sold through approved YWCA Oʻahu fundraising and social enterprise activities.
Reduce waste through reuse and resale.
Support workforce training and community programs.
Strengthen economic opportunity for women and families.
Where to Drop Your Donations
📍1040 Richards St. Honolulu, HI 96816
Drop-offs can be made between 7 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
YWCA Laniākea
📍45-035 Kaneohe Bay Drive
Drop-offs can be made between 10a.m.-4p.m. every 2nd Tuesday of the month and 10a.m.-3p.m. during sale days.
YWCA Kokokahi
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New and gently used women’s apparel and accessories: professional attire, contemporary clothing, dresses, tops and blouses, skirts and pants, denim, jackets, sweaters, outerwear, quality vintage apparel, shoes, handbags, scarves, belts, jewelry, and other accessories.
Designer & Premium Items: Designer apparel, handbags, shoes, jewelry, and other higher-value items.
Vintage & Upcycling Materials: vintage fabric, textiles, aloha wear, aloha-print fabric, denim, and other quality materials suitable for Pua Lei Project workforce development, upcycling, and product development.
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Please donate items that are clean and in good, usable condition.
Items should be free of significant stains, odors, excessive wear, broken zippers, missing buttons, or other damage that would prevent them from being worn, repurposed, or sold.
For unrestricted donations, YWCA Oʻahu determines the most appropriate mission-aligned use of donated items based on client and program needs, quality, condition, suitability, and resale or reuse potential.
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YWCA Oʻahu provides a receipt acknowledging your noncash contribution.
YWCA Oʻahu does not assign a monetary value to donated items. Donors are responsible for determining the value of their contribution for tax purposes.
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If you intend your donation to be restricted specifically for free distribution to Dress for Success clients and not sold, please let us know at the time of donation so we can appropriately document and honor your donor intent.
This distinction is important because Dress for Success Worldwide defines restricted donations as items provided with explicit instructions that they be given to clients free of charge and not sold.
About
Where Does Your Donation Go?
Dress for Success® Honolulu
Work-appropriate apparel, shoes, handbags, jewelry, and accessories are considered for Dress for Success Honolulu to help women prepare for employment and the workplace.
Items are selected based on current client and program needs, condition, sizing, style, and suitability for the workplace.
Dress for Success client needs are given first consideration when determining the use of appropriate donated apparel.
Workforce Development & Pua Lei Project
Selected apparel, textiles, and accessories may support hands-on learning through YWCA Oʻahu’s Pua Lei Project and other workforce development activities.
Participants gain practical experience through activities such as the following:
Retail operations and merchandising
Inventory and product preparation
Sewing and creative reuse
Upcycling, embellishment, stamping, and patchwork
Product development
Customer service and sales
Upcycling and product development materials may include vintage fabric and textiles, vintage aloha wear and aloha-print fabric, quality denim and denim garments, denim jackets, button-up shirts and blouses, and unique textiles, trims, and other materials suitable for creative reuse.
Because materials are selected based on current projects and program needs, we encourage donations of quality, usable materials rather than general fabric remnants or scraps.
Benefit Sale & Social Enterprise
Unrestricted items not needed for Dress for Success client services or other direct program use may be selected for resale through YWCA Oʻahu Benefit Sales, ShopYWCA, pop-up sales, and other approved social enterprise activities.
Designer and premium apparel, handbags, shoes, jewelry, vintage pieces, collectibles, and other items with resale value may be selected for resale when they are not needed to meet current client or program needs.
100% of resale proceeds support YWCA Oʻahu programs and services, including programs that advance women’s economic mobility.
This approach is consistent with Dress for Success Worldwide guidance allowing unrestricted donated inventory not needed for client services to be used for approved fundraising and resale activities while maintaining client access as the primary consideration.
Other Ways to Give
*Dress for Success Honolulu is a program of YWCA Oʻahu, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. No goods or services are provided in exchange for donations. Donors are responsible for determining the fair market value of donated items for tax purposes. Dress for Success Honolulu does not conduct or promote the YWCA Oʻahu Benefit Sale.