How to Donate Shampoo to Homeless Shelters

Many homeless people are forced to go without personal care items.

Few things are more rewarding or satisfying than donating personal care items to needy individuals living in homeless shelters. According to Charity Guide, homeless people often find it very difficult to acquire basic items such as soap, shampoo, deodorant and toothbrushes. (See References 1) Make a positive impact on a needy person today by donating toiletries to reputable, trustworthy homeless shelters.

Things You'll Need

• Shampoo
• Rag
• Boxes
• Bubble wrap
• Postage fees

Instructions

1. Locate a homeless shelter to donate your shampoo to. You can find a homeless shelter by visiting the Homeless Shelter Directory website online. Under the "Search Homeless Shelters by City" header, enter your city name and choose your state from the drop-down box listed below. Click the "Get Shelters" button to find homeless shelters near you.

2. Contact the homeless shelter to determine whether or not the facility is accepting shampoo donations and has enough storage space for the shampoo. According to Charity Guide, shelters may have specific requirements for donations or may have suggestions for items to include.

3. Gather all the shampoo and gently wipe each shampoo bottle clean with a damp cloth. If the shampoo has been previously used, clean the area around the cap thoroughly. Twist the cap tight to prevent leakage during delivery.

4. Carefully place the shampoo bottles in a secure, sturdy box. Prevent spillage or damage to the shampoo bottles during transportation by using bubble wrap to fill in any extra space in the box.

5. Drop the shampoo off at the homeless shelter or ship it to the shelter by mail. Contact the facility to determine the best time to drop off the shampoo. If you're mailing the shampoo to the homeless shelter, write the facility's official address on the box and ship it accordingly.

Tips & Warnings

• You can take a charitable tax deduction for donating items to homeless shelters. Charity Navigator recommends documenting your donation by getting a receipt for your donation.

• Shipping your shampoo donation to the homeless shelter by mail can be very expensive.

References

• Charity Guide: Make Hygiene Kits for Homeless People
• Charity Navigator: Tax Benefits of Giving

Resources

• Homeless Shelter Directory: Search Homeless Shelters