Free clothing closets and clothing banks by city and county
A clothing closet can put a winter coat on your child, dress you for a job interview, or replace what a house fire took — all at no cost. Churches, charities, and community groups run thousands of these programs across the country, and they go by many names: clothing bank, clothes pantry, clothing ministry, or community closet. Whatever the name, the purpose is the same — free clothes for people who cannot afford them right now.
This page will help you understand how clothing closets work, who can get help, and what to expect when you visit one. There is a directory of local programs organized by state, city, and county, along with national charities that give away clothes, coats, shoes, and work uniforms.
How clothing closets work and who can get free clothes
Most clothing closets are small, volunteer-run programs that depend on donations from their own community rather than government funding. That shapes everything about them: inventory changes constantly, popular sizes run out, and no two locations operate the same way. Most items are gently used, though some programs give out brand-new clothes, especially for children. At a client-choice closet, you browse the racks and pick what fits, much like shopping in a store. Other locations pack a bag for you based on the sizes and items you request.
Each closet sets its own rules. Some ask for a photo ID, proof of address, or proof of income, while many ask for nothing beyond your sizes. Some limit how many items you can take or how often you can come back, and a small number charge a token fee, such as a dollar a bag, to cover operating costs. Hours change often at volunteer-run programs, so call before you go.
What is on the shelves depends on the season and on what neighbors have donated. Winter brings coats, hats, gloves, and boots, with children and seniors often served first. Back-to-school season brings uniforms, sneakers, jeans, and backpacks. Year-round, most closets stock everyday basics — shirts, pants, shoes, socks, and underwear — in a range of sizes for all ages. Some keep maternity wear, infant clothing, diapers, and free baby supplies including clothes for new and expecting parents, and some give vouchers or gift cards to a partner thrift store instead of handing out items directly.
After a fire, flood, or other disaster, most closets will help right away regardless of income. Emergency clothing for families who lost everything is one of the oldest reasons these programs exist.
Free clothes for work, job interviews, and uniforms
When a lack of proper clothes stands between you and a paycheck, there are programs built for exactly that problem. Dress for Success outfits women with a complete interview outfit, then a working wardrobe once they are hired, through roughly 130 locations across the country. Access is by referral from a job training program, social service agency, or unemployment office, and there is no cost. Find a local affiliate through https://dressforsuccess.org or see a more detailed guide to Dress for Success programs.
Many regional Goodwill organizations issue clothing vouchers through partner agencies — a caseworker, school, or church refers you, and the voucher is redeemed for clothes and shoes at a Goodwill store. Goodwill career centers can point you to the voucher program in your region. Local workforce offices and job centers sometimes run their own career closets stocked with interview attire, scrubs, steel-toe boots, and non-slip shoes. Regular church clothing closets often keep work uniforms on hand too — it never hurts to ask.
Find a free clothing closet by state, city, or county
Select a state to find clothing closets and clothing banks in larger cities and more populated counties. If your county is not listed, the national charities after the directory or dial 211 or visit https://www.211.org and ask about clothing assistance near you. Organizations such as The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and St. Vincent de Paul also run clothing programs in many of the communities on this page — details on each are after the state list.
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Washington DC
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
National charities that tend to give out free clothes
The Salvation Army runs clothing closets and thrift stores in most of the cities and counties in the directory on this page. Depending on the location, families may get clothes directly from a closet, or a voucher to redeem at a Salvation Army Family Store for work clothes, school clothes, winter coats, interview suits, or baby items. Learn how programs from the Salvation Army work in your community.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul operates through local Catholic parishes and runs thrift stores nationwide. Members often provide free clothing vouchers to families in crisis, redeemable at their stores, and some conferences give out clothes, shoes, and household basics directly. Find out how the St. Vincent de Paul programs work, including how they handle clothing requests.
Catholic Charities agencies across the country collect donated clothes of all sizes, prepare them for distribution, and give them free to people facing an emergency. Availability and rules vary - see details on assistance programs from Catholic Charities and learn how they vary by diocese.
Love In the Name of Christ, or Love INC, coordinates help through networks of local churches. Households call a central clearinghouse, and approved requests are matched to a partner church that can provide clothing, school supplies, or other basics. Some Love INC locations also run low-cost thrift stores.
Winter coats have their own seasonal options. Most of these start during the fall and supplies go quickly.
- Coats for Kids-style drives run every fall and winter in most cold-weather regions, distributing donated coats, hats, and gloves at no cost — find details using our guide to free winter clothes giveaways in your area.
- One Warm Coat (website: https://www.onewarmcoat.org) supplies coats to partner agencies and schools in all 50 states, for both children and adults.
- Operation Warm manufactures brand-new coats and shoes for children and provides them through schools, Head Start programs, and partner organizations rather than directly to families — if your child's school or a local charity participates, the items are free. Ask the school or charity if they partner with Operation Warm.
For shoes, Soles4Souls distributes new pairs through partner charities and schools, including programs aimed at students whose families have lost their housing. On that note, every public school district has a staff member, usually called a homeless liaison, whose job includes making sure kids without stable housing have what they need for school — that can include clothes, shoes, uniforms, and supplies. Ask at the school office; the help is free and your child cannot be turned away for lacking documents. Also see the Soles4Souls site at https://soles4souls.org/request-shoes.
Two free community options work without any application at all. Freecycle Network giveaways and local Buy Nothing groups (website: https://docs.buynothingproject.org/find-a-group) let neighbors give away clothes and other items at no cost — post what you need or claim what is offered. And while not free, thrift stores sell gently used clothes at a fraction of retail, and many partner with the clothing closets on this page to honor vouchers.
Beyond clothes, many of these same charities help with other essentials. There may be free furniture for families recovering from a disaster or leaving homelessness, medical equipment to borrow from a free medical loan closet, and other programs that offer free stuff, both online or in your community.
Moderated community discussion - referrals and requests
We also have a moderated forum discussing places for free clothes and other items. It is free to register and use. Read real experiences from people across the country, share your own, and pick up tips on finding clothes and other basic needs.
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