Every time I come to the island, which is 2-3 times a year, I bring a suitcase full of clothing for donation. All is new, varying in size and type and collected from friends and fam. I take the tags off and sometimes wash the clothing. I claim all that I have extra on the immigration form, declaring the approx value along with a limited description of what I have brought. I make sure to state also that they are all for donation. Each time I have been search, lightly, nothing too intrusive, asked a few questions, and then I am sent on my way. No matter what the true value is of all that have brought, I usually claim the total to be around 200US. I tell the customs officer the place that I plan on leaving the items, such as the local church in Negril, and also where they have come from such as from friends and fam. I mix the clothing in with my own but it is obvious that some does not belong to me or would not fit me so this is why I declare. I have been asked to ensure that the next time I do this that I pack the donations in a seperate bag, I ususally bring 2 bags as one is for donation and one is full with my clothes, but I never do. I don't want them to look too hard at what I have brought and they usually don't.
