Double the Warmth: Sponsor an Outfit

The environment

The Community Closet project helped extend the life of thousands of clothing items by redistributing them directly back into local communities rather than allowing them to go to waste. Between January and May 2026, the project redistributed 3,471 items of clothing through housing and community partners across Dublin, helping reduce demand for new clothing while keeping usable textiles in circulation for longer. Using our standard textile weight estimates, this equates to approximately 1,735kg of textiles diverted from landfill in just five months. By focusing on local redistribution, the project also reduced unnecessary waste and supported more sustainable community-based consumption. Alongside the environmental impact, the project demonstrated how clothing reuse can create positive social impact at the same time - supporting people experiencing hardship while reducing textile waste locally.

The local economy

The Community Closet project supported the local economy by redistributing free clothing directly through frontline community organisations, helping reduce financial pressure on individuals and families experiencing hardship. By providing access to essential, seasonally appropriate clothing at no cost, the project helped people redirect limited household income towards other necessities such as food, transport and energy bills. The project also strengthened collaboration between local housing, homelessness and community support organisations across Dublin, supporting a more connected and resource-efficient local support network. Alongside the direct social benefit, the project contributed to a more circular local economy by keeping thousands of usable clothing items in circulation within the community rather than sending them to landfill or export.

Volunteering, jobs & education

The Community Closet project created opportunities for volunteering and community participation through the collection, sorting and redistribution of clothing donations. Volunteers supported the day-to-day running of the project, helping prepare clothing for redistribution and assisting with partner deliveries and events. Through this involvement, volunteers gained practical experience in community work, textile reuse and circular economy practices. The project also strengthened relationships between local organisations working across homelessness, poverty and community support, helping build shared knowledge and collaboration around sustainable clothing access and redistribution. Alongside direct volunteering opportunities, the project helped demonstrate how community-based reuse initiatives can create meaningful local participation while addressing both environmental and social challenges.

Arts, culture & heritage

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Activity, health and leisure

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