"Battle Creek's Charitable Union Exposed: Secret Recycling Operation Uncovered After Decades"

Battle Creek, MI — Charitable Union, widely known for more than 137 years of providing basic-needs support to Calhoun County families, is pulling back the curtain on one of its longest-running yet least-known initiatives: a robust textile and athletic shoe recycling program.

“I bet you didn’t know that Charitable Union operates recycling programs,” said Teresa Allen, CEO of Charitable Union. “In a typical year, we recycle about 200,000 pounds of damaged textiles. We developed this program out of necessity; we had too much stuff going into a dumpster. So, in the 1990s we created a textile recycling program.”

What started as a practical solution has grown into a major local sustainability effort. Today, Charitable Union partners with businesses and households to keep unusable or outdated materials out of landfills.

Turning Old Textiles Into New Possibilities

“Do you have outdated uniforms? Send them to us, and they will avoid a landfill and become something new!” Allen said. “Did you know that recycled clothing can be shredded and sold on the market or used as insulation in homes? Breathing new life into old clothes has a positive impact on our planet!”

Through its textile recycling program, Charitable Union ensures that materials too damaged or worn for reuse are still put to purpose—supporting both environmental sustainability and the circular economy.

Sneakers That Go the Extra Mile

In addition to textiles, Charitable Union operates a specialized recycling program for worn-out athletic shoes.

“There are some rules for this program,” Allen explained. “They must be athletic shoes with shoestrings, and they need to be tied together. We cannot recycle Keds, Vans, or slip-on (no lace) shoes.”

The impact of this effort is powerful. So far this year, Charitable Union has recycled more than 1,000 pairs of sneakers, resulting in a sustainability impact of:

• 3.7 million gallons of water saved, and
• Over 50,000 pounds of carbon dioxide displaced

A Quiet Legacy with Big Environmental Impact

For decades, Charitable Union has quietly led local sustainability efforts—reducing waste, repurposing materials, and helping businesses avoid putting usable resources into landfills.

“It’s just another way we care for our community,” Allen said. “We’ve always believed that being good stewards of the environment is part of being good stewards of our neighbors.”

How to Participate

Businesses and individuals interested in donating damaged textiles, outdated uniforms, or worn athletic shoes can drop items off at Charitable Union during business hours. Have questions, please call our office at (269) 964-7234 or email info@CharitableUnion.org.