As the homeless population continues to rise, much of the concern is how these people survive their daily ordeals. With little or no money, these people hardly afford a meal, leave alone better healthcare and hygiene.
There are more homeless people than homeless shelters can cater to in terms of basic needs. If you like donating, homeless shelters should be your priority as there are various ways you can offer support, even on a budget.
Read on to get a glimpse of great ideas for people who would wish to donate to homeless shelters but don't know what to donate.
Hygiene Kits and Personal Care Items
One of the biggest challenges for homeless people is staying clean, contributing to the spreading of infectious diseases in shelters. They lack proper hygiene kits and personal care items which could be useful in their day to day lives.
Donating or associating yourself with an organization dedicated to helping homeless people access hygiene kits is a great idea. They can benefit from wholesale hygiene kits like soaps, shampoo, toiletry, hand sanitizers, face masks, and personal care items.
New or Used Clothing
Most people or even you are continually organizing their closets and getting rid of clothes they don't usually wear. These might range from summer wear and warm jackets for the cold seasons. Homeless shelters accept clothing donations for adults and children if they house families.
Donating clothing to a homeless shelter is an excellent idea as warm jackets help them during cold seasons, and light clothing can be worn during job interviews. If you can afford it, you can even consider donating new clothing to the shelters.
School Supplies and Toys
There are homeless shelters all over the country that house families with children. For children experiencing homelessness, simple items like toys can come in handy to eliminate the anxiety it comes with.
School supplies such as paper, pencils, crayons, markers, and storybooks are ample for donation at the shelters. These will help young and middle-aged children get engaged and make their life feel normal.
Used or New Blankets
Another great idea to donate to homeless shelters is blankets, whether they are new or used. Most people donate blankets only in cold seasons, but these can be useful for the homeless all year long.
Homeless people would appreciate a warm place to sleep, and some charities are dedicated to making their dream come true by running a warm heart charity. These are dedicated to providing warm clothes, blankets, and sleeping bags to the homeless.
New or Used Footwear
Donating footwear is another heartwarming gift for people in homeless shelters. Most of these people probably work odd jobs and need steel toe boots, while others spend their days hunting for jobs. Shoes, whether slightly used or new, would be of great help to these people.
Children's shoes would also be an excellent gift for those in homeless family shelters.
Depending on the shelter, you are guaranteed that what you give will be put to good use and be helpful to someone in need.
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