Written by TCO Volunteers
As a nonprofit cloth diaper bank, The Cloth Option (TCO) depends on donations of cloth diapers and funds in order to continue working toward our mission of ending diaper need through cloth diaper access. This page is a list of frequently asked questions about our diaper donation process.
If this page doesn’t answer your question, please don’t hesitate to contact us! We are glad to help coordinate your donation and greatly appreciate your support.
A: Yes! TCO relies on donations of cloth diapers to continue our program. As soon as we receive a donation, we get right to work inspecting, sanitizing, and repairing the items (when necessary) to prepare them for distribution to a family in need.
A: TCO accepts all sizes, styles, and brands of cloth diapers. We even accept items in need of minor repairs, such as elastic or snap replacements. We do not have restrictions on the cloth diaper brands or styles that we accept.
A: TCO accepts donations of items that need minor repairs but are otherwise in good, usable condition. If you’re not sure, feel free to reach out and ask us. We are glad to help determine if an item is usable, and we make every effort to utilize textile recycling services or donate to another nonprofit, such as an animal shelter, if we receive items that we are unable to distribute. We work to create a cloth diaper package that the recipient family is proud to receive and use.
A: We are able to do minor repairs to donated diapers, such as replacing stretched elastics or broken snaps, refreshing hook and loop closures, or treating minor staining. We are unable to repair damaged PUL/TPU (the water-resistant layer on cloth diapers) or repair large holes or surface wear. When we receive items that cannot be repaired, we make every effort to recycle or donate the items to keep them out of landfills. We sanitize (as well as strip and treat stains, when necessary) all items before distributing them.
A: Please ensure that any cloth diapers or accessories being donated to TCO are clean and dry; just wash them with your usual wash routine. We sanitize all donations before distribution, so you do not need to sanitize the diapers before donating. It is helpful to our volunteers if you leave pockets unstuffed! If you are mailing the cloth diapers to us, please pack them in a shipping box and tape the box securely.
A: You can utilize our map of volunteers and donation drop off locations to find the closest volunteer. If you don’t have a local drop off, please contact us to coordinate a shipped donation to the closest distributing cloth diaper advocate. You can also mail your donation directly to our PO Box: The Cloth Option, P.O. Box 1341, Holyoke, MA 01041.
A: We prioritize allocating our limited funds to mailing cloth diaper packages to approved families, so that we can continue offering this program at no cost to recipients. As a result, we are unable to pay for shipping of donations. If you contact us, we will help you get the lowest shipping price to the closest volunteer. Also, your shipping cost may be tax deductible; check with your tax professional!
A: Yes, TCO acknowledges every donation with a donation acknowledgment letter, which you can use for tax purposes. TCO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and your donation may be tax deductible; please check with your tax professional about valuing and claiming your donation. Please make sure that your name and contact information is included with your donation, so that we get your letter to you. Donation acknowledgement letters are generated and sent about every two weeks by our volunteers.
Please be sure to include your name and contact information with your donation. Here is an example!
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