How AGAPE Supports Sustainability and the Environment

At AGAPE Love From Above to Our Community, we’re committed to being more than just a source of assistance for those in need in Columbia, Montour, and Northumberland Counties. We’re also dedicated to doing our part to protect the environment. From accepting donations of clothing and household goods to adopting eco-friendly practices within our organization, we’re constantly seeking ways to reduce waste and promote sustainability in our community.

The Importance of Clothing Donations for Sustainability

Did you know that Americans throw away over 13 million tons of clothing each year? With fast fashion and overconsumption driving an overwhelming amount of waste, landfills are filling up with textiles that take hundreds of years to decompose. But donating unused items—like clothing and household goods—not only provides much-needed resources to those in need but also helps reduce environmental impact.

Here are a few ways clothing donations support sustainability:

  1. Less Clothing in Landfills
    Most clothing today is made from synthetic materials, which can take centuries to break down in a landfill. By donating your clothes, you extend their life and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills each year. Plus, you’re directly helping individuals in need access clothing they may be unable to afford.
  2. Fewer Wasted Resources
    The production of new clothing consumes significant natural resources—just one pair of jeans requires around 1,800 gallons of water to make! By keeping clothes in circulation through donation and recycling, we help limit the demand for new clothing production, conserving precious resources like water.
  3. Reduced Chemical Pollution
    The growing process for cotton, a major component of many textiles, is highly pesticide-intensive, contributing to soil degradation and water contamination. Additionally, textile manufacturing often involves toxic dyes and crude oil by-products. Donating clothes reduces the need for new textiles to be produced, ultimately lowering the environmental impact caused by harmful chemicals.

AGAPE’s Commitment to Sustainable Practices

Our commitment to sustainability goes beyond accepting donations. AGAPE is taking several proactive steps to minimize our environmental footprint:

  • Solar Panels: We plan to install solar panels on our facility in October 2024, to harness clean, renewable energy to power our operations.
  • Recycling Metals and Cardboard: Besides household goods, we actively recycle metals and cardboard, ensuring these materials don’t end up in landfills.
  • Energy-Efficient Food Distribution: During our food distributions, we’ve implemented a trolley system to transport food boxes. This allows us to keep our facility’s large truck bay doors closed, conserving cool air in the summer and warm air in the winter, reducing energy usage.

Why This Matters

By focusing on sustainability, AGAPE isn’t just helping individuals and families in our community—we’re also playing our part in protecting the planet. Whether it’s through reducing waste, conserving resources, or adopting energy-efficient practices, we’re working to ensure a brighter, more sustainable future for all.

We encourage everyone to join us in our efforts! If you have unused clothing or household items, consider donating them to AGAPE. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those in need while helping the environment at the same time.

More About In-Kind Donations to AGAPE

AGAPE is grateful to receive non-monetary donations in the form of drop-off (in-kind) donations. AGAPE is open to accept drop-off donations during business hours, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday, Tuesday and Friday. Free pick-up service is available for appliance and furniture Donations. Contact us at (570) 317-2210 to schedule a pick-up or to plan to drop off donations outside of our normal drop-off times.

Food Donations

You can join AGAPE’s efforts to alleviate hunger in Columbia, Montour and Northumberland Counties by donating food. The need is great; AGAPE is currently serving over 700 families or households each month. All donated items are distributed to families facing food hardships via our weekly Daily Bread meal, supplemental emergency food boxes and/or in partnership with the Columbia County Food Bank. Needed donations include spaghetti sauce, pasta, peanut butter, jelly, canned fruit, canned meats, boxed meals, side dish items and condiments (ketchup, mustard, etc.). We can also accept donations of fresh and frozen produce, packaged meats and dairy products, however, due to limited space, please contact us at (570) 317-2210 or dailybread@agape-pa.org to make arrangements.