First Aid Supplies

• Adult Tylenol
• Cold & flu, and allergy medicine
• Cough medicine
• Cough drops
• Tums/Pepto Bismol
• Band-aids
• Rubbing alcohol
• Hydrogen peroxide
• First aid cream
• Tweezers/Scissors
• Thermometers
• Safety pins
• Syrup of Ipecac
• Non-allergenic tape
• Gauze roller bandage
• Sterile gauze strips
• “RID” for lice

↑ Return to Top

Baby Supplies

• Baby gates
• Playpens
• Changing tables
• Children's pain & allergy relief
• Baby wipes
• Baby thermometers
• Dosing spoons
• Children's shampoo/soap
• Diapers (all sizes)
• Baby toothbrushes/toothpaste
• Baby formula, juice & Pedialyte

↑ Return to Top

Maintenance Supplies

• Cleaning Baskets (details below)
• Dish liquid
• SOS pads
• Lysol spray
• Latex gloves
• Paper towels
• Toilet bowl cleaner
• Windex
• Clorox bleach cleaner
• Sponges
• Garbage bags (all sizes)
• Paper plates, cups, utensils
• Light bulbs
• Flash lights

↑ Return to Top

Personal Care Items

• Clean towels & washcloths
• Bar soap & deodorant
• Toothpaste & brushes
• Combs & brushes
• Feminine hygiene products
• Kleenex
• Bug spray
• (New) women's underwear

↑ Return to Top

Major Items Wish List

• A building/space for a larger Day Center
• Fire safety equipment (exit lights, etc.)
• An intercom system

↑ Return to Top

Non-Materials Wish List

• Additional host and support congregations to add a third network
• An additional part– or full-time case manager
• Relationships with corporate donors
• Additional fundraising special events
• A single site shelter that can house up to 4 families
• Additional services to shorten the stay of our guests
• A transitional housing program
• Advocacy services for homeless families
• A job search program
• A drug and alcohol abuse program
• A mentoring program
• Legal assistance
• Relationships with universities & other volunteer bases
• Additional staff education opportunities
• Three newsletters annually
• Additional board members

Donating complete baskets is a great way to welcome new families into our program and to help formerly homeless families start out their new households.

↑ Return to Top

Guidelines

These lists have been carefully selected so please do not substitute. Please call the staff at Interfaith Hospitality Network before you drop off the baskets at our Day Center.

Cleaning Supplies Basket: given to each family as they move into their own housing

• Laundry basket
• 2 gallon bucket
• Laundry detergent
• Dishwashing detergent
• Toilet bowl cleaner
• Toilet bowl brush
• Toilet paper (4 pack)
• Sponges
• Scrub brush
• Scouring powder or liquid
• Glass cleaner (Windex, etc.)
• All-purpose cleaner (Mr. Clean, Top Job, etc.)
• Handi-wipes
• 1 roll paper towels
• Garbage bags

Food Basket: given to each family as they move into their own housing. Please include a variety of canned goods, and avoid all glass containers.

• 2 cans meat (Stew, mash, SPAM, etc)
• 2 cans vegetables
• 2 cans fruit
• 2 cans soup
• 2 boxes mac & cheese
• 1 box dry soup mix
• 1 lb. dry beans
• 1 package rice
• 1 box hot cereal
• 1 box powdered milk
• 1 can evaporated milk
• 1 jar peanut butter

↑ Return to Top

Toiletries Bag (fulfilled)

The toiletries bag is given to each individual as they come into our program. The items can be collected in a brown paper lunch bag or plastic grocery bag.  Children's bags should include children's shampoo, soap, toothbrush, and toothpaste.

• Full-size bar of soap
• Full-size shampoo
• Full-size conditioner
• Washcloth/Sponge
• Full-size deodorant
• Razor
• Shaving Cream
• Optional items:
  • Body and facial lotion
  • Sunscreen

↑ Return to Top

Birthday in a Bag (fulfilled)

When guests are celebrating a birthday while in the shelter, we give them one of these, containing everything they need to have a great birthday celebration for their child! Please mark the bag (on the gift tag) with the age/gender appropriateness of the gift so that we can see at a glance, which bag to give to the family for the birthday party.

• A birthday-themed “gift bag” to put the items in
• 1 box cake mix
• 1 tub icing
• 1 package of birthday candles
• 1 aluminum cake pan
• 1 plastic cake spatula
• Decorative paper plates
• Decorative paper napkins
• Party hats, noisemakers, balloon, and/or streamers (get creative!)
• A small gift for the birthday boy/girl: an activity book, toy, craft, etc.

↑ Return to Top