WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- More than 33,000 items of old denim -- jeans , hats and jackets -- were sent to Washington in a recycling effort that will benefit disaster-struck homes , officials said . Erek Hansen donated five pairs of his own outgrown jeans to the cause and collected almost 1,700 pairs . National Geographic Kids magazine encouraged readers to donate their old denim instead of throwing it away . The resulting 33,088 pieces of denim clothing set a world record , verified Wednesday by a representative from Guinness World Records , according to the magazine 's blog . The thousands of pairs of jeans , which are on display at Union Station for two weeks , will be turned into housing insulation for homes affected by natural disasters . According to the magazine , there will be enough material to provide insulation for 60 houses . The jeans will be turned over to Cotton Inc. , which collects used denim for natural fiber insulation made without carcinogens or chemical irritants . Paula Rosario , vice president of consumer marketing for the company , said that the new record `` certainly attests to the civic-mindedness of today 's children . '' The ceremony unveiling the denim display also honored 9-year-old Erek Hansen , who collected nearly 1,700 jeans . The elementary school student from Curtice , Ohio , said that his friends and classmates `` were happy to help the environment . '' Hansen donated five pairs of his own outgrown jeans . The display also includes a pair from actor Ben Stiller .
National Geographic Kids magazine encouraged readers to donate old denim . More than 33,000 items of old denim -- jeans , hats and jackets -- sent to Washington . Material will be turned into housing insulation for homes affected by natural disasters . Erek Hansen , 9 , of Curtice , Ohio , collect almost 1,700 pairs of jeans .