Huntington, NY – Have you ever wondered exactly where your clothes go when you donate them to charity through clothes drop-off bins? Councilwoman Susan Berland is introducing legislation to ensure that residents in the Town of Huntington know for sure.

Berland's purpose for this legislation is three-fold. First, her plan ensures residents that the organizations to which they are donating clothes are legitimate. Second, it requires that registrants of bins disclose the destination of the clothing to protect residents against unknowingly giving to an organization they would not otherwise support. Third, if the organization does not donate the clothing, but gets cash paid to them by the sale of that clothing, the percentage paid to the organization will be disclosed.

The Town Board has scheduled a public hearing for April 8th's Town Board meeting regarding Berland's proposed legislation that will require owners to register clothing bins already in place as well as registering new bins before they place them on any property. The legislation incorporates the use of a permit sticker to designate those particular bins registered through the Town. Registration forms will be used to generate a list of all known clothing bins in Huntington, who they are registered to, the designated charity, and whether the clothes themselves are to be donated or a percentage is paid to the charity.

"Currently, residents donate their clothes through drop-off bins without fully and confidently knowing the destination of their donation. Donated clothes may be given directly to the earmarked charity or may be sold for their weight as rags. In addition, not all bins have a beneficiary organization listed on them and some of those listed may not be legitimate charities," said Councilwoman Berland. "People donate to charity because they want to make a difference in the lives of others and in such, it is important that their good deeds are not taken advantage of."