Deborah Chan
There are several organizations that accept wedding dress donations to create burial gowns for babies, also known as Angel Gowns. These gowns are provided free of charge to grieving families and hospitals. Notable organizations include NICU Helping Hands, The Emma and Evan Foundation, Angel Babies, and Little Angel Gowns. Before donating, it is important to review the specific guidelines and criteria provided by each organization, such as ensuring the dress is clean and in good condition. Some organizations may also have specific instructions for preparing and shipping the dress. It is worth noting that these organizations may not be able to return the dress or provide photographs of the Angel Gowns created from the donated dresses.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Organization Name | NICU Helping Hands, Angel Babies, The Emma and Evan Foundation, Little Angel Gowns |
| What They Do With Donated Wedding Dresses | Transform them into infant burial gowns, also called Angel Gowns |
| Who Receives the Gowns | Hospitals, birthing centers, funeral homes, and directly to grieving families |
| Cost to Families | Free of charge |
| Cost to Donor | Free to donate, but donors must pay for shipping |
| Tax Implications | Donations are tax-deductible |
| Dress Requirements | Clean and in good condition |
| Additional Items They Accept | Blankets, knitted hats, sewing supplies, craft store gift cards, monetary donations |
| Return Policy | Unable to return donated dresses |
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What You'll Learn
Donating wedding dresses to be made into infant burial gowns
The first step in the donation process is to find an organization that accepts wedding dress donations for infant burial gowns. Reputable organizations include NICU Helping Hands, The Emma and Evan Foundation, Angel Babies, and Little Angel Gowns. These organizations work closely with hospitals, funeral homes, and families to provide burial gowns at no cost. It is important to review the guidelines and criteria of each organization before donating.
Most organizations accept wedding dresses of any color as long as they are clean and in good condition. Donors may be asked to remove tissue paper, hangers, and packaging from the dress. Some organizations may also request that the netting or crinoline be cut and discarded before donation. It is important to carefully review the preparation instructions provided by the chosen organization.
When donating a wedding dress, it is essential to consider the impact of the donation. Creating infant burial gowns from wedding dresses is a complex process that involves seamstresses and volunteers. Organizations may use several wedding dresses together to create unique burial gowns, providing comfort and support to families experiencing the loss of a baby. It is important to respect the privacy of the families and the sensitivity of the situation.
Some organizations may offer the opportunity to receive photos of the completed burial gowns. However, due to the complex nature of the process and the involvement of multiple dresses, specific photos of gowns made from a particular dress may not always be available. Donors should review the policies of the chosen organization regarding photos and keepsakes.
Finally, it is important to carefully package and ship the wedding dress according to the instructions provided by the organization. Some organizations may accept drop-off donations, while others may require the dress to be mailed in a box or shipped directly to a seamstress. It is essential to respect the guidelines and processes of the chosen organization to ensure a smooth donation process.
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Charities that accept wedding dress donations
There are several charities that accept wedding dress donations to create infant burial gowns for babies. Here are some organizations that accept wedding dress donations:
The Emma and Evan Foundation
The Emma and Evan Foundation, also known as the Eve Foundation, transforms donated wedding dresses into infant burial gowns, or Angel Gowns. These gowns are provided free of charge to hospitals, birthing centers, funeral homes, and grieving families. The foundation aims to provide comfort to families experiencing the loss of a baby, as 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss. They have a dedicated board of directors and a network of volunteers across the US who contribute their time and creativity to support grieving families.
NICU Helping Hands
NICU Helping Hands is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that accepts wedding dress donations for their Angel Gown® Program. The donated gowns are sent to their team of seamstresses across the United States, who create burial garments for babies. These Angel Gown® garments are provided free of charge to hospitals and families upon request. The organization also accepts bridesmaid gowns and provides tax acknowledgment letters for donations. They emphasize that donors should thoughtfully consider their decision as they are unable to return donated gowns.
Angel Babies
Angel Babies accepts wedding dress donations of any color and uses them to create Angel Gowns. They also accept various other items, such as blankets, knitted hats, sewing supplies, and monetary donations. They provide specific instructions for preparing and dropping off or mailing donations. Angel Babies donates the Angel Gowns to local hospitals that request them but cannot guarantee the placement of specific gowns. They also post photos of the Angel Gowns created from the donated dresses on their Facebook page.
Little Angel Gowns
Little Angel Gowns is a charity based in Indiana that sews burial attire for babies from donated wedding gowns. They work with hospitals, funeral homes, and individual families to provide comfort during a difficult time. Those interested in donating a wedding gown can send an email to [email protected] to receive their dress acceptance policy.
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Preparing your wedding dress for donation
If you're thinking of donating your wedding dress to be transformed into an infant burial gown, there are a few things you should do to prepare it for donation. Firstly, if there is any part of the dress that you would like to keep as a memento, be sure to cut it off and set it aside before donating. This could be a piece of the fabric, lace, or any other part of the dress that holds special significance for you.
Once you've set aside any keepsakes, it's time to start preparing the rest of the dress. Remove any tissue paper, hangers, or other packaging that may be inside the dress. If your dress has netting, crinoline, underskirts, or lining, it's a good idea to remove these as well, as they may not be needed for the burial gowns. You can simply cut these pieces off with scissors; it doesn't have to be a perfect cut. After removing these pieces, let the remaining dress hang up for a few days to air out.
Before donating, check that your dress is clean and in good condition. If it has any odour, be sure to have it cleaned before sending it to the donation organization. Fold or roll your dress to fit into a small box for mailing. Some organizations may have specific instructions for how to package and send the dress, so be sure to review their guidelines before sending your donation.
Lastly, if you're mailing your donation, you may want to include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your dress. This way, the organization can send you a tax donation acknowledgement letter via mail. This letter can be useful for tax purposes, as wedding dress donations to some organizations are tax-deductible.
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Online donation processes for wedding dresses
Many organizations accept wedding dress donations to create infant burial gowns, also known as Angel Gowns, which are provided to grieving families and hospitals at no cost. Here is an overview of the online donation processes for some of these organizations:
The Emma and Evan Foundation
The Emma and Evan Foundation has a network of volunteers across the US who transform wedding dresses into Angel Gowns. They do not specify an online donation process on their website, but they do provide a link to their contact page, where potential donors can likely find more information.
NICU Helping Hands
NICU Helping Hands is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that accepts wedding dress donations for their Angel Gown Program. They have an online donation process that must be followed for inventory control and legal reasons. Donors are encouraged to thoughtfully consider their donation as the organization is unable to return wedding gowns once they are received. If the gown has an odor, it should be cleaned before shipping. NICU Helping Hands will send a tax acknowledgment letter for tax deduction purposes. They do not guarantee photographs of the completed Angel Gowns or placement at specific hospitals.
Angel Babies
Angel Babies accepts wedding dress donations for creating Angel Gowns. They provide detailed instructions for donors, including removing the dress from any boxes and tissue paper, hanging it up to air out, and folding or rolling it into a small box for mailing. They also specify that preservation boxes are no longer accepted. Angel Babies mentions that donors should cut off any portion of the dress they wish to keep before donating. Drop-off instructions are provided on their website, along with a list of other needed items, such as blankets, hats, and sewing supplies.
Little Angel Gowns
Little Angel Gowns is another organization that sews burial attire for babies from donated wedding gowns. They work with hospitals, funeral homes, and individual families. Those interested in donating a wedding gown can send an email to the provided email address to receive their dress acceptance policy.
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What happens to donated wedding dresses
Donating a wedding dress can help another bride and extend the life of the dress, keeping it out of a landfill. There are many organizations that accept wedding dress donations, and they use the dresses in different ways. Some organizations, like Brides Against Breast Cancer, resell the dresses and use the proceeds to support their charitable causes. Brides Across America donates dresses to military and first responder brides. The NICU Helping Hands Angel Gown Program uses donated wedding dresses to create burial gowns for infants.
The Angel Gown Program is a registered trademark and is available across the United States. The program accepts donations of wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses in light shades of blue, pink, and purple. These dresses are then sent to seamstresses who remake them into burial gowns for babies. The gowns are provided free of charge to hospitals, birthing centers, funeral homes, and grieving families. The program is supported by donors and volunteers, many of whom have experienced the loss of a child or loved one.
The Angel Babies organization also creates burial gowns for babies from donated wedding dresses. They accept dresses of any color and ask that donors remove the netting/crinoline from the underside of the dress before donating. They also accept other items such as blankets, knitted hats, sewing supplies, and monetary donations. Angel Babies donates the Angel Gowns to local hospitals that request them.
Donating a wedding dress can also provide financial benefits for the donor. In the United States, taxpayers can claim charitable contributions as deductions when filing taxes. Additionally, donating a wedding dress can free up storage space in one's home. For these reasons, many brides choose to donate their dresses instead of selling them or keeping them stored away.
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Frequently asked questions
You can donate your wedding dress to the Angel Gown Program by NICU Helping Hands, Angel Babies, or Little Angel Gowns.
Your wedding dress must be clean and in good condition. If your dress has an odour, you should have it cleaned before shipping it to the organisation.
Donated wedding dresses are transformed into infant burial gowns, also known as Angel Gowns, which are provided to hospitals, funeral homes, and families free of charge.
It is a complex process, and organisations cannot guarantee photos of each completed Angel Gown. However, Angel Babies posts photos of Angel Gowns on their Facebook page whenever possible.
