How Can You Make an Effective Impact?
By: Hana Graybill
Whether you are hosting a company-wide donation drive or collecting a few items with your family members, in-kind donations are incredibly beneficial to homeless shelters. Many shelters rely on donations from businesses, organizations, and community members to help them accommodate their residents and keep their facilities running.
But some donations are much more appreciated than others. Shelter needs vary by location, population, and season. For example, a shelter that serves mostly women is not going to have much use for men’s boxer briefs. Likewise, a shelter that serves mostly men probably does not want feminine products. And few shelters are going to need winter hats in the middle of the summer!
Shelter storage space is often limited, and some items are always in higher demand than others. Therefore, shelter staff might be less excited about your donation than you had hoped. In fact, although they appreciate your time and effort, they might even have to turn your donation away, encouraging you to bring it back at another time or give it to a different organization.
So, before you make your next donation, follow these steps to ensure that your contribution is as beneficial as possible.
1. Review the shelter’s wish list.
Most shelters have wish lists available on their websites. These lists are the perfect starting point for planning a donation. They outline the things that the shelter accepts as in-kind gifts. Often, these lists will provide specific product information, such as brands and sizes. Try to follow this guidance! It is included for a reason; no one knows the residents’ needs better than the shelter staff members who compile these lists.
Bethesda Project, a nonprofit organization that provides shelter, housing, and supportive services to adults experiencing chronic homelessness in Philadelphia, has a wish list available on our website. It includes things like sweatpants in sizes L and XL, $5 gift cards to be used as Bingo prizes, and new bath towels, among many other items.
2. Look for notes about high-need items.
Certain products tend to be more needed than others. This demand changes based on an array of variables, such as weather, current residents’ needs, and even upcoming holidays. Other factors can influence what is most needed, too. For instance, as we saw at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, most organizations were in need of PPE and cleaning products. Homeless shelters were no exception, and with many facilities operating communal areas such as bathrooms and kitchens, these supplies were extremely important.
Currently, Bethesda Project’s high-need items range from new or gently used men’s boots and sneakers to jigsaw puzzles to keep residents occupied in their rooms during continued isolation. All nine high-need items can be found in the “High Need Items” section of our wish list.
3. Take notice of unaccepted items.
Some people assume that shelters will accept any items, regardless of their condition. However, this is certainly not the case! Many shelters request that donated items are new or gently used to limit the spread of germs. Plus, residents will feel so much more welcome and supported if they receive a new pair of pants instead of an old pair with rips in the knees.
Shelters also may not accept items based on low demand or facility guidelines. For instance, Bethesda Project does not accept most women’s clothing because of our smaller female population. We also do not accept used furniture or kitchen appliances to ensure that all this equipment is safe and uniform. Visit Bethesda Project’s website to learn which other items are not accepted.
4. Schedule a phone call with the shelter staff member that oversees donations.
Even if you have reviewed all of a shelter’s donation guidelines, you may not be seeing the most up-to-date information. The shelter may have just received a large donation of a certain item, or staff may be preparing for an upcoming event for which they need a different product. Talking with the staff member who oversees donations is the best way to get current donation information.
This conversation is also a great way for you to learn more about the shelter and its needs. It can clarify exactly how your donation will be helping residents, and it can spark donation ideas you may not have thought of without suggestions from staff. Go into the phone call with questions about wish lists, high-need items, and unaccepted items. The more you know about donation guidelines, the more impactful your donation will be!
At Bethesda Project, the Community Life staff members oversee all in-kind donations. Email them to set up a time discuss donations at communitylife@bethesdaproject.org.
5. Consider hosting a fundraiser.
Sometimes, monetary donations are more beneficial to shelters than product or supplies donations. Monetary donations allow shelter staff to purchase the exact products that their residents need. These kinds of donations can also support programs and services that the shelter offers, such as special events or community outreach.
Instead of collecting items to donate, consider hosting a fundraiser and donating the proceeds. Fundraisers can be held at local business or restaurants, or via social media by asking followers to fill up a donation Bingo board. Plus, fundraisers create more awareness for the shelter you are supporting!
Bethesda Project accepts monetary donations online. Visit their Giving page to learn more about donating money.
6. Donate items directly from Amazon.
Another way to ensure that you are providing a shelter with the specific items it needs is by donating via their Amazon Wish List. Staff members can add products from Amazon to this list, allowing them to distinguish the exact items they are requesting. Then, you can add some (or all!) of the products right to your cart and ship them directly to the shelter. This process ensures that you are donating needed items, which arrive right on the shelter’s doorstep.
Some of the products on Bethesda Project’s Amazon Wish List overlap with our general wish list, such as storage bins and cleaning bleach. But some items, like gardening tools and adult coloring books, are unique to the Amazon version. Add one of these items to your next Amazon purchase!
7. Coordinate a time to drop off your donation.
When you have eventually collected all the items you are donating to the shelter, do not just bag them up and leave them at the front door. It may be hours before a staff member notices that they are there, or the staff may not have the capacity to handle a donation that day. Reach out to the shelter ahead of time to coordinate a time to drop off your donation. That way, the shelter staff is prepared to accept your donation, and you know that your items have made it into the proper hands.
Bethesda Project requires that all donations be scheduled in advance. Email communitylife@bethesdaproject.org to coordinate a drop-off time.
Homeless shelters could not operate as well as they do without the assistance of in-kind donations. These gifts allow staff to better welcome and support residents, helping them feel safe and aiding in their overall journey to overcome homelessness. By following these seven steps, you can support shelters like Bethesda Project in a thoughtful, meaningful way and improve the lives of individuals suffering from homelessness.
