This highlights the depth of simplicity. We have things so backwards.

Here are some ideas. 1. Contact a current ministry to the homeless and volunteer your services. 2. Start a sewing business and donate the money to current ministry. 3. Find a ministry on line like Days for Girls International Feminine Hygiene Program or » Little Dresses for Africa (there are others) and sew for them. Good luck.

I would suggest Optimist International-Bringing Out the Best in Kids! It is an international organization but all the work is done in your local community! It doesn't cost very much to join, you can do as much or as little as you want as far as participating! Go to www.optimist.org to find out more!

St. Vincent de Paul is a very hands on organization helping the poor in every neighborhood. The organization where I live has a free dining room and help for homeless families. They help people by giving them jobs so they can get experience to get a better job. They help people who need beds and electric bills paid. Anyone can help.

I have not heard the other replies yet, but you might call your county extension office and ask about an Extension Homemakers Club. These ladies do similar work as the Nanas, but perhaps not on so grand a scale. At least the EHC would be a good place to start.

There is Adrian Paul's PEACE (protect, educate, aid children everywhere) fund, which has no paid staff at all, and funds underfunded children's organizations, and virtually every penny raised goes to where it needs to. They've helped Teachers Across Borders, they've helped Sunshine and Lollipops, and a lot of other groups. You can find out about them at thepeacefund.org and if what they're doing moves you, you can contribute in concrete ways.

You can also volunteer at a local food or clothing bank. There are numerous ways to help...look for volunteer opportunities that fit your life and schedule. Volunteering will energize you and feel really good, too.

Start your own business. Make costumes or period clothing which will bring you much more income than ordinary clothing. Donate the proceeds to help the poor. I always think about keeping it in this country, as I believe "charity begins at home" and we already give tons to other countries.

Kunta, you could make mention to a few friends that you would be willing to take in clothing that needs to be mended but is otherwise good quality, and then donate them to a homeless/domestic abuse shelter after mending them (in love). Another thing that you can do with your talents is to create doll clothes for children's homes or domestic abuse shelters.
A friend and I donated to a inner city school silent auction a beautiful christening dress I made and which she purchased the material for. Another time I made a children's quilt for the children's home using leftover scraps from sewing projects and half a sheet as the backing.
Children's homes are often where the children go when they are caught in a situation where their parents are hospitalized or dealing with legal situations and cannot care for them, and there is no one else to care for them either. It is very difficult on these young kids to go through such things, and are often having to live for weeks or more with only one set of clothing of their own. My former church has a sewing group which makes and mends clothing for the local children's shelter kids to wear.
I also like donating to domestic abuse shelters because often these women have to grab their children and run out quietly and quickly without any of personal items.
And the nice thing is you can do these on your own schedule.

Make things and give them away on fiverr.com. People in need can pay $5 for an outfit or two that would usually cost a lot more, and you can use the $5 to cover cost of shipping or use it to get more supplies. You can also set it up so that people could buy the $5 outfits for you to donate anonymously or in memory of a loved one.

Earlier I saw where someone was taking clothes that normally are tossed from a charity or at rummage sales & making blankets with them or taking parts off one to replace others. Homeless shelters, missions, etc. have all kinds of ideas. You just need to call & ask. Our community kitchen & resource centers, shelters, etc. sometimes just need someone to answer the phone so they can take care of other business. Whatever your passion is call a place meeting that need & explain the situation. You would be amazed how sometimes the little things can make a big impact.I started out one day finding brand new pair of jeans at Walmart for $1. and it hit me how much some poor child would absolutely love it. Then I discovered I could get a lot of personal hygiene items with coupons for free or almost free. Now it's a challenge & I get a thrill out of figuring out some way to donate expensive items for only a small fraction of it's value. It doesn't take a lot of money.I always say a little prayer for help in finding the deals. these people started out with so little & it grew as they were faithful to share what they have. That's how charity is supposed to work.

Kunta, a shelter for victims of domestic violence could use someone who can mend/alter any donated clothing so it fits whoever is in need at the time. I have also heard of people making personalized baby blankets for mothers who have late term miscarriages or babies who die shortly after birth. Just a couple ideas.