s/o if you grew up poor...: where can you donate to children in need?
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Anonymous
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This is the spinoff from the thread about memories of growing up poor. http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/316049.page Some posters wanted to know what they could do to help children currently in this situation. If you have had a good experience with an organization that takes donations, add to the list. Ideally, people will post from all parts of DMV.
I'll start. From the original thread:
A Wider Circle in Silver Spring: http://www.awidercircle.org/index.html I found them to be efficient and their turnover rate of donated items is fast. Their website is specific about what items they take (furniture, baby gear, job interview clothes). From their website: Each day, A Wider Circle provides basic need items to families transitioning out of shelters or simply living without life’s necessities. We furnish the homes of more than 1,000 children and adults every single month, all free of charge. We also go into low-income schools and shelters to lead educational workshops on topics ranging from healthy self-esteem and stress management to resume writing and financial planning. |
Anonymous
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When school starts again, think about donating to your local school, or a school nearby that may need some help. For example, many schools (I'm in Fairfax County), quietly provide jackets, booster seats, athletic shoes, school supplies, even food for the student to take home on weekends. Ask the PTA president, the school social worker, a teacher or a parent liaison what's needed.
Think ahead and provide double - one for your child, one for someone who may have "forgotten" or wouldn't otherwise participate in a school event. Is there a dress-up day (Colonial Day)? Ask a teacher if you can help outfit a student. Valentines Day? Donate new packages of cards to a teacher to distribute. Science projects? Buy an extra project board. Deal on shoes? Buy an extra an give to the PE teacher to keep on hand (with socks). I like doing these small, tangible acts of kindness. You know you providing immediate help and it can be done without any red tape, fanfare and you can be anonymous. |
Anonymous
| Don't tell the DCUM "Donate to Charity" posters to go away. |
Anonymous
| We donate to children in our school. We pay double for field trips - once for our child and once for a child in the class for whom it would be a hardship to pay. We donate coats that have been grown out of, as well as clothing. |
Anonymous
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http://www.spaceofherown.org/
Mentorship program in Alexandria that works with at risk girls living in poverty. It's a great program and it's a year long so it goes beyond just material items and into developing coping skills and experiences. They need both financial donations as well as items: http://spaceofherown.org/index.php/donate |
Anonymous
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I grew up poor. But there's worse poverty here in Montgomery County. Unbelievable to me. I always thought of this county as extremely wealthy.
I donate to Stepping Stones Shelter in Rockville, a shelter for homeless families. http://steppingstonesshelter.org/ And give food and money to Manna Food Center's Smart Sacks program, that sends healthy food home with kids so they can eat on weekends. http://www.mannafood.org/index.cfm?page=smart-sacks |
Anonymous
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when I was growing up poor in the deep south, we received most of our help from local churches. many have open food pantries. Some have closets of clothes.
They were set up in a place where you could just walk in and take what you needed. not sure where in this area you can do this but if your church does this, keep it stocked! |
Anonymous
| Agree with all of the above suggestions and am adding a plea: please don't just put donation worthy items out on the curb then post notes on neighborhood listservs advising a pickup pending trash day. Instead, please take the items not claimed to the above charities or call to arrange for a charity to pick up. This helps ensure that the items stay in good usable condition, stay out of landfills, and make it to families who need it most. |
Anonymous
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Donate packs of new underwear and socks in various sizes, especially teen sizes, whenever you drop off your gently used stuff.
That is a dignity issue, more than any of the other items. |
Anonymous
| Any Title One school would welcome donations of school supplies. Most of the time, teachers pay for this out of their own pockets. Also, check out www.donorschoose.org and choose a teacher/school to donate to. Also, www.firstbook.org is another good resource for donations of books for kids. |
Anonymous
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Donate your gently used books to the library or schools.
Also, it's not just the "stuff." Monetary donations (even modest ones) can go a long way to helping someone change their life around, e.g. http://www.crossway-community.org/ |
Anonymous
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DC Diaper Bank is a fantastic organization.
www.dcdiaperbank.org They will even take opened packs of diapers when your children outgrow them. |
Anonymous
Is there a list of places to drop off diapers? I couldn't find it. Thanks! |
Anonymous
"Like" them on Facebook. They often post locations for diaper drives. I've noticed they do a lot with Whole Foods. Also, contact them directly. DH and I have shipped/mailed directly to them and I think they have a facility where you can drop off if that's more convenient. Here is the link to their Contact page: http://www.dcdiaperbank.org/contact/ |
Anonymous
| My church, Holy Trinity in Georgetown organizes back to school supply donations. I'd bet many other churches/synagogues do as well. Give locally! Lots of needs in the DC area. |