18 Dec 2021

A huge percentage of the items we use every day can be reused or recycled, and there are disadvantaged children across the US and the rest of the world who can make great use of all sorts of items that would otherwise be thrown out and wasted. The 10 nonprofit groups you will see below are making great use of recyclable and reusable items, refurbishing and repairing them before sending them out to children in need across the world. Take a look at our list below to see how just a few of the best nonprofit groups out there are making a huge difference to the lives of children across the world, using your recyclables to do it!

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Dreaming Zebra

The Dreaming Zebra Foundation is a nonprofit group that is making a difference to kids across the world. Based in Portland, Oregon, this organization takes a range of reusable art and music supplies and redistributes them to disadvantaged children across the world, allowing them to engage in creative pursuits and self-expression regardless of their circumstances or background.

Clean the World

Hygiene-related illnesses are a major issue, particularly in the global South, and Clean the World aims to solve them as far as possible. This nonprofit organization is the world’s first and only (so far!) high volume recycler of soap, collecting and recycling soap that would otherwise be discarded by businesses and hotels. They collect this up and send it out to communities with no access to soaps, helping to reduce and prevent hygiene-related illnesses across the world for longer, healthier lives.

Soles4Souls

Shoes are hard to dispose of and often thrown out in an entirely wearable condition. Soles4Souls believes that a pair of shoes can make an enormous difference in someone’s life, no matter what their background may be. This organization collects new and used pairs of shoes and redistributes them across 127 countries, helping people in poverty to access safe footwear. This provides short-term relief for problems while building towards long-term solutions and reduces financial pressures on those in need.

Green Kids Now

Green Kids Now is a California-based nonprofit organization that works to encourage kids to raise awareness on a wide range of environmental issues. All of their programs and services are firmly child-led, developed, and enacted by children. So far, projects have included creek and coastal clean-ups, wetlands reconstruction, book drives, and several other environmental projects.

Read Indeed

Read Indeed is an unusual nonprofit initiative due to being founded by a child. Maria Keller set up this organization at the age of 8, redistributing books to kids in need across the world. In the last 9 years, she has donated over 2 million books to underprivileged children across the world, bringing access to reading for kids who would otherwise be prevented by a simple lack of resources.

Leveling the Playing Field

Disadvantaged families often struggle with getting their kids involved in athletics, in large part because sports equipment is so expensive. Leveling the Playing Field is a nonprofit organization that aims to help kids from disadvantaged backgrounds to get involved with sports by reallocating unused sports equipment to people who need it. In the last five years, Leveling the Playing Field has redistributed over $2.5 million worth of sports equipment to families who would not otherwise be able to afford it, helping their kids to live a happy and active life. This nonprofit organization is recognized and supported by a number of prominent sporting figures across the US.

Free Bikes 4 Kidz

Free Bikes 4 Kidz is a US-based nonprofit organization that helps disadvantaged children to make use of bikes outgrown by their previous owners. Millions of bikes are sold across the US every year, and many of those go to kids who will soon outgrow them. Free Bikes 4 Kidz takes those outgrown bikes and finds new homes for them, giving outgrown bikes to kids who do not have access to them. This helps kids across the US have a happier and healthier childhood, regardless of their situation in life. Over the last 8 years, Free Bikes 4 Kidz have given away over 32,000 bikes to disadvantaged children, making an incredible difference to their lives!

Keys 4/4 Kids

Keys 4/4 Kids aims to connect kids from all backgrounds with art and music by selling unused and unwanted pianos to raise funds for youth music programs. All pianos are refurbished by professional piano technicians before being sold on, and all funds are used for expanding youth music programs in several cities across the US.

Computers for Kids

Computer systems get outdated fast and are a major source of waste in the tech sector. Computers for Kids refurbishes old computer systems and donates them to schools and children in need. The aim of this nonprofit organization is to equalize educational opportunities, ensuring that no child falls behind due to a lack of computer access at home. Thousands of children across the US have been given full access to a home computer so far, and the program shows no signs of slowing down!

Art FORM

Another great nonprofit group providing arts education to disadvantaged kids is Art FORM, a San Diego-based organization associated with a professional art studio. FORM stands for Found Objects Recycled Materials, chosen because the nonprofit organization primarily focuses on using recycled materials for projects during art workshops.

Conclusion

There are thousands of nonprofits organization and groups making great use of recycled materials across the world, and these are just a few of our favorites. Any of these is a great option to donate to, but there might be more in your area that you could support!