A TikTok AirTag experiment revealed what happens when you donate clothes to charity

Where do your donations go?
 By 
Meera Navlakha
 on 
An image of an AirTag against an orange background.
Credit: Amazon/Mashable Photo Composite.

Ever wonder what happens when you donate clothes or old goods to charity? A TikTok creator decided to conduct an experiment to find out.

Creator @moe.haa decided to hide an AirTag in a pair of sneakers he donated to a Red Cross donation bin in Munich, Germany. He then tracked the journey through the Find My app.

Over the course of five days, the creator watched the sneakers cross borders and countries: going through Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia and eventually being placed in a second-hand store in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The journey spanned about 800km from its starting point.

Mashable Trend Report
Decode what’s viral, what’s next, and what it all means.
Sign up for Mashable’s weekly Trend Report newsletter.
By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!

The TikTokker then made a road trip to the resale store, where he found the shoes and bought them back. He asked the store clerk how the shoes ended up there. It turns out, her boss brought them to the store from Germany, where he resides.

According to the German Red Cross website, they have 18,000 donation bins across Germany. The items placed there are sorted into two different recycling models. The first is the "clothing depot model," when the items are sorted by the Red Cross and items are distributed to depots and thrift stores. The second is the "recycler model," in which entire contents of the container are sold to a company. From the second, the proceeds support Red Cross' overarching mission.

Thanks to the AirTag, the creator provided a little insight into how donations actually work. Your clothes may be traveling far, for a good cause.

This is the latest case of AirTags helping out in unusual ways. A London couple, for example, just tracked down their stolen Jaguar using a stashed AirTag inside the car.

Topics TikTok

Mashable Image
Meera Navlakha

Meera is a journalist based between London and New York. Her work has been published in The New York Times, Vice, The Independent, Vogue India, W Magazine, and others. She was previously a Culture Reporter at Mashable. 


Recommended For You
Stop losing your important stuff with this Belkin AirTag holder for under $10
Belkin Apple AirTag Secure Holder with Clip on green and yellow abstract background

The Apple AirTag is now under $20 on Prime Day — less than $1 off its record-low price
Apple AirTag on Prime Day background


Stop losing your stuff with 14% off an Apple AirTag
Apple AirTag on orange abstract background


More in Life
Here’s what Nvidia has to say about Rowhammer and whether you should worry
Nvidia headquarters


Snag a 27-inch Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 for its lowest price to date
The Samsung Odyssey OLED G6 gaming monitor is shown on its stand against a textured gray background. The screen displays a vibrant gaming scene, with logos indicating its 27-inch QHD display, 240Hz refresh rate, and FreeSync Premium Pro technology.


Google is merging Android with ChromeOS
Google Android

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 14, 2025
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 14, 2025
Wordle game on a smartphone

NYT Strands hints, answers for July 14
A game being played on a smartphone.

Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 15, 2025
Wordle game on a smartphone

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 13, 2025
Connections game on a smartphone
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!