'Tis The Season To Pay It Forward!!
As we’re all listening to Christmas music
, reading Christmas stories
, watching Christmas movies
, and making holiday plans with our families, all is not well in the world. There is a single mom with three young boys who had to take temporary refuge at her local shelter because the money ran out and she hasn’t been able to find another job.
We all could be just one paycheck away from that. There was a time when I was overwhelmed by my monthly expenses because childcare cost me more than what I paid to live in a two bedroom apartment with my son.
I said enough is enough and did what I said I would never do – I moved back to my hometown, where I had the support of my family and started over. For about a year and a half, I lived with my parents, worked two jobs, and slowly got back on my feet. Finally, we moved into our own place and I slowly adjusted to my new normal.
But, what if I didn’t have a soft place to land? This time of year, especially, as my grandchildren make Christmas lists and I am fortunate enough to be able to grant some of their wishes, I think of others. . .
Wondering what you can do during the holiday season to support your local homeless shelter? This post features a list of more than 100 items you can donate to make a real difference in someone’s life.
Please check out the King’s Harvest Homeless Shelter’s Amazon Wish List and pitch in to help the homeless population! See the list at: Wish List
King’s Harvest is a 501 (c) 3 and all donations are tax deductible! To make monetary donations please visit: Donations
GIFT IDEAS FOR CHILDREN LIVING IN HOMELESS SHELTERS
GAMES & TOYS:
- Board games
(like Uno
, Sorry!
, Skip-Bo
card game, Apples to Apples
, Chutes and Ladders
, Guess Who
, Trouble
)
- Dress up clothes
and accessories
- Video games
- Jump ropes
- Pillow Pets
- Legos
CRAFTS & ACTIVITIES:
- Journals
- Pens
in multiple colors
- Paint
and paint brushes
HEALTH & PERSONAL CARE:
GIFT CARDS ($10 AND $20 INCREMENTS):
CLOTHING (ALL SIZES FROM NEWBORNS TO TEENS):
MEDIA:
- Young adult/teen novels
(Examples: Maze Runner
, Divergent
, etc.)
- Movies
(dvds) for kids
GIFT IDEAS FOR ADULTS LIVING IN HOMELESS SHELTERS
HOUSEHOLD:
- Pop up hampers
- Flashlights
- Umbrellas
- Doormats
- Lap size quilts
/throw blankets
- Placemats
/napkin sets
- Scented candles
- 2017 calendars
CLOTHING:
- Pajama sets
/sweats
(all sizes)
- Slippers
- Underwear
(men’s
and women’s
/all sizes)
- Warm gloves
and hats
- Socks
(men’s and women’s/all sizes)
- Plain t-shirts
for tie-dying & bright colored dyes
HEALTH & BEAUTY:
- Nail care kits
(clippers
, files
, polish
, etc.)
- Chap-stick
- Jewelry
- Makeup
- Lotion for sensitive skin
- Face washes
and moisturizers
- Hair brushes
- Hair accessories
- Stress balls
CRAFTS & ACTIVITIES:
- 1000 piece puzzles
- Craft paints (acrylic)
and brushes
- Craft canvases
- Notepads
/journals
(purse sized)
- Writing pens
- Adult coloring books
(like Mandala
)
GIFT CARDS:
FOOD:
GENERAL ITEMS ALWAYS NEEDED (BUT OFTEN FORGOTTEN) AT HOMELESS SHELTERS
- Deodorant
- Regular Size Soaps
- Single Use Shampoos
& Conditioners
- Underwear
in a Range of Sizes (for men and women: need both larger and smaller sizes)
- Varied Sized Bras
(don’t forget larger sizes
, too)
- Full Length and Short Length Socks
- Industrial Size Body Wash
- Wash Cloths
- Towels
- Razors
(men’s
and women’s
)
- Shower Shoes
- Pull-ups
- Baby Wipes
- Diapers
(size 3
, size 4
, & size 5
)
Comments
Post a Comment