How to Donate to a Women's Shelter

Many of the women and children who stay at women's shelters around the US arrive with nothing other than the clothes on their backs. To escape an abusive situation, there may not be any time to take any possessions with them when they leave home, safety comes first. However, that means that women's shelters are in constant need of donations to help these women and their children.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Items or money to donate

1. To locate a women's shelter near you isn't always easy as many of them do not advertise their location, to keep the women and children safe. You can call your local churches, YWCA, and police stations for their help in finding out how, and where to donate items to a women's shelter near you.
2. Try to find out what the shelters need ahead of time, as well as what they accept in donations, and what they will not accept.
   
   Women's clothing of all sizes is usually a good suggestion, either new or gently used. Shoes and underwear are important too, including some nice outfits for job hunting.
   
   Children's clothing, including diapers and pajamas, is another very good idea. Don't forget undrwear or shoes for children, they need everything.
   
   For both women and children, personal care items like shampoo, makeup, baby items, tampons, hairbrushes and combs, and other personal care items are always desirable items to donate.
   
   For children, toys, games, stuffed animals, and books are excellent suggestions. School supplies are needed also.
   
   Women like books too, as well as items like stationary supplies, journals to write in, magazines, bedding, towels, pillows, radios or stereos, dvd players and dvd's.
   
   Other good choices would be bus vouchers, grocery gift cards, or gift cards to discount stores, etc.
3. Women's shelters often have limited resources so, while they do the best they can to help the women and children who stay in the shelter, that help is often the bare minimum possible because that is all the shelter can afford to do.
   
   It's a very difficult situation to be in, fleeing a violent situation and home and staying in a women's shelter. The women and children who are living temporarily in a women's shelter have very little to comfort them or give them hope. A small donation of needed supplies or clothes or toys, to your local women's shelter will be a kindness these women and children never forget.
   
   You can also donate money directly to the shelter if you prefer to do that, and the shelter will use the money for operating expenses.