Donations for the homeless

[being-homeless.livejournal.com]

I've posted a few times in the past to b0st0n about donating blankets and coats and stuff to the homeless, but I figure it was worth cross-posting here to this community for those of you who aren't in b0st0n:

If any of you are cleaning out your closets and have extra blankets, sleeping bags, coats, winter clothes, backpacks or bags, these items are desparately needed at Youth on Fire, a drop-in center for homeless youth located in Harvard Square. Homeless youth under the age 18 aren't allowed to stay in shelters (they should be in foster care but most are runaways because of abuse) and are forced to the streets for the winter. There is always a shortage of blankets and sleeping bags and winter clothes here in the shelters. So if you are cleaning out your stuff and have stuff you aren't using, consider donating it to someone who can!!!

Donations can be dropped off at Youth On Fire (1555 Mass Ave- basement of Harvard Epworth Methodist Church next to Harvard Law School) Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri 12-6pm. (77 or 96 bus stops right in front of YOF).


If you are looking to get rid of furniture, Mass Coalition for the Homeless has a furniture bank for the homeless getting housing and can pick up furniture items. you can contact them at (781) 595-7570x13.

Youth on Fire has a current wishlist of other items they need as well, so i figured I'd post it if anyone in cleaning out their room and looking for a place to donate things to.

Wishlist for Youth on Fire
Center Activities:

Board games: Othello, Chess, Checkers, Monopoly, Connect Four, Cards, Backgamon, Dominos

Books: good fiction, romance, comics, history, politics

TV/ VCR combo

DVD player

Holiday decorations

Journals

VHS Movies: comedies, drama, romance, action/adventure – NO VIOLENCE

Magazine subscriptions: Teen Voices, Health, Oprah, Rolling Stone

Boston Globe subscription

Tool Kit

Winter Items for Youth:

Sleeping Bags

Wool Socks

Wool blankets

Gloves / Scarves/ Hats/ Winter Face Masks

Winter Coats/ Rain Gear

Mess Kits

Tents – flexible poles

Tarps

Camping stoves

Long Johns/ Thermals

Other Clothing Items:

Scrubs

“Work” clothes

Backpacks

Shoe Laces

Underwear (male and female) (female sizes 5, 6, 7, 8)

Sports bras (sizes A, B, and C)

Sewing kits

Safety pins

Hygiene/ Toiletry Items:

Lotion

Baby/Body Powder

Travel Sized Toothpaste

Toothbrushes (full sized and travel sized)

Flu Medicine – Capsules only (no liquid)

Nail Clippers

Laundry Tabs (“single serving” laundry detergent)

Duct Tape

Mole skin (for blisters)

Ear plugs

Women’s solid deodorant

_________________________

I also want to say thanks to you all who do donate to homeless programs instead of throwing stuff out or sending it to the Goodwill. It was because of the generosity of people like you that I had warm blankets, socks, a coat, and other items that I needed to survive out in the cold last winter. It might not seem like a big deal to you since it's stuff you weren't using anyway, but if you are homeless, you go to sleep outside at night afraid you might not wake up because of hypothermia, and getting donations of blankets, socks and and coats is really what could keep you alive through the winter. Thank you all for your donations.

Comments

[in-parentheses.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for posting this! I've actually been looking for someplace that could really use my old TV/VCR and DVD player. I'll head over there next week. :)

[being-homeless.livejournal.com]

that would be awesome. they've had these items on their wishlist for a long time. :)

[hyperliminal.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for posting this! I have a coat I've been wanting to give away but didn't want to donate to goodwill. Youth on Fire is a convenient location, too! Fantastic.

[being-homeless.livejournal.com]

awesome! winter coats have been going like crazy there.

[messy-beautiful.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting! I was just thinking about Youth On Fire. My school donated some money last winter and I definitely want to donate more this year. Actually stuff though. I want to start a drive at my church.
I'll definitely keep YOF in mind.

[being-homeless.livejournal.com]

a drive would be really awesome!
blankets, sleeping bags and backpacks would be the biggest needs right now! anything else is of course welcome. :)

[messy-beautiful.livejournal.com]

Hey! I actually got my church to do a little drive! We're going to have kids make hygiene bags and collect hats, scarves, gloves, and some clothes. We're going to be putting stuff together on the 19th, so hopefully stuff will be delivered the following week.

[being-homeless.livejournal.com]

awesome! thanks so much!