Giving back - part 1

 I've been volunteering in homeless shelter/rescue/halfway houses, and I thought that I'd share with you some of the things that would be greatly appreciated if you wished to donate- at any time of the year!

~ Pickles!  Pickles are fun, and they aid digestion.  It's one thing that everyone misses, and no one donates, because it's not a "staple". Just be sure to bring enough they can actually be served.

~ Salsa, hot sauces, BBQ sauce!  Just like in a home setting it jazzes up "boring" food...LOL!

~ Eggs, raw....  =)

~ Flavored Creamer, and Half & Half for coffee....comfort when you can't go home.

~ Home-baked treats.  Lots of places get donations from local grocery stores, but everyone goes crazy for home-baked!

~ Vitamins like: Vit. C & Magnesium 

~ Lotion!  Especially NEUTRAL scents that men & women can both enjoy. What sizes?  Large pumps for common areas as well as non-pumps in "smaller" more personal sizes.

~Lip balm (for guys and girls), small packs of Wipes, pocket Tissue packs.

~ Good or decent quality nail clippers, tweezers.

~ NAIL BRUSHES!  And buffers/files.

~ Hair Brushes & Picks & good combs.  (you know not just the "10-for-a-dollar" kind)

~ Dental floss.

~ Body wash-  I would say bar soap while most often donated is rarely used, because folks do not have a good place or way to keep bar soap. Again: especially NEUTRAL scents that men & women can both enjoy.

~ Under things. New/gently used, and in all sizes.  Don't  just bring piles of socks...ask the shelter what they need.  Also, consider something like an "Angel Tree"/adopt a sister or brother kind of thing: ask if anyone there (especially a female guest) what they need, and what size--you can make someone's month or even year!

~ Depend type products.  

~ Laundry soaps.  Guests who wash off-site like Powder or Pods. (stain removing products too)

~ Sewing kits.  Safety pins- especially LARGE sturdy quilting size.  (to easily take up clothes) 

~ Cross-body bags & backpacks in a variety of sizes.

~ Note pads & post-its.

~ Card games.  

~ Sometimes even a TV would be appreciated. (but you should ask first...)

~ Colored pencils and grown-up friendly coloring books are enjoyed too...  

Fall/Winter donations?

~ Warm coats for men and women...especially for the folks who walk to work. 

These were just a few thoughts...I hope it helps. 

"Giving thanks always for all things 

unto God and the Father 

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.." 

Ephesians 5:20