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The Polish Red Cross operates throughout Poland. Choose your local branch to view a page with information tailored to your region.
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Whole Poland
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Clothing collection
The Polish Red Cross conducts a continuous, year-round collection of textiles, which can be donated to specially marked containers placed across the entire territory of Poland.
Program Description
The Polish Red Cross "Textiles" program is a nationwide collection of clothing, footwear and home textiles. In over 28,000 containers, distributed throughout the country, we collect items that can be given a second life. In this way, we reduce the waste of textiles, promoting the idea of a second circulation of clothing.
PCK containers do not replace Selective Collection Points for Municipal Waste (PSZOK) - they are used only for the collection of clean, reusable textiles.
The collected items are selected from the containers and sorted by the PCK partner - some of them are sold, and the funds obtained support the statutory activities of the Polish Red Cross, in accordance with the needs of the local community. By leaving clothes in the containers, you contribute to the implementation of aid activities and support for those in need in your area.
Do you have any questions? Check the Questions and Answers section or check the contact details of the local project coordinator ➝ map at the bottom of the page. You can also donate clothes directly to your local PCK branch or the Warsaw DOBROshop.
in a nutshell
What to put in textile containers?
Containers should be filled with clean and good condition items:
- clothing: shirts, blouses, T-shirts, dresses, skirts, pants, jackets, coats;
- footwear: only in pairs, preferably tied together to avoid separation;
- home textiles: bedding, towels, tablecloths, curtains, drapes;
- clothing accessories: hats, scarves, gloves, belts, bags;
- children's clothing;
- sportswear;
- textile toys.
It is best to pack textiles in closed bags with a capacity of 35 liters (that fit in the container's drop-off slot) to protect them from dirt and moisture.
What should not be thrown into textile containers?
The textile containers should not be used for:
- wet and damp clothes;
- damaged, torn, heavily worn clothes;
- carpets, rugs, mattresses, pillows, quilts;
- industrial and construction waste: bags, films, tarpaulins, paint containers;
- items other than textiles: sports equipment, electronics;
- material scraps;
- household waste, other municipal waste including packaging waste.
Textiles thrown into PCK containers cannot be heavily damaged, torn, contaminated with chemicals, or wet. Throwing such items may lead to damage or contamination of other donations, preventing their resale or further use, and significantly complicating the sorting and recycling process, while also increasing environmental costs.
Such items should go directly to a PSZOK / MPSZOK.
Impact on local activities
The Polish Red Cross (PCK) uses funds raised from textile collection for activities that meet the needs of the local community. The specific allocation of funds obtained from textile collection is decided by the regional branch of PCK, which can allocate them, among other things, for: support programs for children from the poorest families, assistance for the sick, running educational programs, or maintaining the rescue and first aid system.
By leaving clothes in the containers, you contribute to the implementation of assistance activities and support those in need in your area.
Verification of containers
Donors who want to give clothes, bedding, plush toys, or shoes in good condition can do so by dropping off washed items at the nearest Polish Red Cross (PCK) branch.
Those who decide to leave textiles in containers should pay attention to their markings. Only those marked with the PCK sign are intended for our statutory charitable activities, so even if there is a container with the logo of another institution or an unmarked one in the immediate vicinity of the PCK containers, it does not belong to PCK.
Containers bear the sign of the Red Cross along with contact details of the local PCK branch, which allows for quick verification of whether a given container is included in the campaign and reporting irregularities such as damage or overfilling.
The Polish Red Cross, together with donors, saves over 64,000 tons of textiles annually through collections in containers, which are reused instead of ending up in the landfill.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to prepare and pack gifts for the container?
Textiles should be packed in such a way that they fit into the drop-off slot – in bags with a maximum capacity of 35 liters. We recommend thoroughly checking the pockets before packing the clothing.
What will happen to the textiles collected in the containers?
The textiles collected in containers are resold to our partner, who decides their further fate, directing them, among other things, to sales (from where they may subsequently end up in second hand). The funds obtained in this way are allocated to financing charitable activities such as assistance to those in need, education, or rescue support. The textiles that go into the containers cannot be directly passed to those in need for hygiene reasons, and sometimes also due to the condition they are in.
The container in my area is overflowing or damaged – where and to whom should I report it?
Thank you for your questions or concerns regarding the containers in your area, especially if you notice that a container is overflowing or damaged, please report the incident or feedback, as we want them to serve their purpose. Scroll down to the bottom of the page, then select the appropriate voivodeship - the District Branch of the Polish Red Cross on the map, to display the contact information for the coordinator in your region.
Does everyone textile container belong to the Polish Red Cross?
The Polish Red Cross is a pioneer in the collection of textiles for containers, which is why they have been associated with the PRC for years. However, not every textile container belongs to the PRC. Only those marked with the PRC logo serve our statutory charity activities, so even if there is a container with the logo of another institution or an unmarked one in the immediate vicinity of PRC containers, it does not belong to the PRC.
Can clothing be brought directly to the PCK branches?
Many local branches of the Polish Red Cross (PCK) accept clothing directly from donors. However, before visiting a branch, we recommend contacting them in advance (by phone or email) to confirm the possibility of donating, the hours of operation, and the current needs at the facility. You can read about local collections on their social media profiles or websites. Go to the contact tab, then select the appropriate province – the PCK District Branch on the map, to display the contact information for the coordinator in your area.
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Contact regarding clothing and overflowing containers:
Whole Poland
To contact regarding the textile collection from the Polish Red Cross in your region, select (click) the appropriate voivodeship - Regional Branch of the Polish Red Cross on the map below
Cała Polska
Office headquarters
Mokotowska Street 14, 00-561 Warsaw
Contact
Andrzej Antoń tel. 693 615 993
Overfilled container
In case of container overflow, please select a department and contact the indicated person.
Container locations
See our actions
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Excluded groups
The Polish Red Cross supports excluded groups, such as the homeless, refugees, lonely seniors and children from families in difficult situations, offering food, medical and psychological assistance. We are involved in education and social integration, helping to overcome barriers related to poverty and social exclusion.
Refugees and migrants
The Polish Red Cross provides support to people who are forced to leave their homes as a result of war, persecution or natural disasters.
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