Wondering what you can do during the holiday season to support your local homeless shelter? This post features a list of more than 100 items you can donate to make a real difference in someone’s life.
As we’re all listening to Christmas music
Related: 5 Step Guide to Surviving a Layoff
We all could be just one paycheck away from that. There was a time when I was overwhelmed by my monthly expenses because childcare cost more than what we paid to live in a three bedroom home on 1-1/2 acres of land.
I said enough is enough and did what I said I would never do – I moved back to my hometown, where I had the support of my family and started over. For about a year and a half, I lived with my grandmother, worked two jobs, and slowly got back on my feet. Finally, we moved into our own place and I slowly adjusted to my new normal.
But, what if I didn’t have a soft place to land? This time of year, especially, as my children make Christmas lists and I am fortunate enough to be able to grant their wishes, I think of others.
Related: 4 Rewarding Ways to Spread Holiday Cheer
Wondering what you can do during the holiday season to support your local homeless shelter? This post features a list of more than 100 items you can donate to make a real difference in someone’s life.
Gift Ideas for Children Living in Homeless Shelters
Games & Toys:
- Board games
(like Uno
, Sorry!
, Skip-Bo
card game, Apples to Apples
, Chutes and Ladders
, Guess Who
, Trouble
)
- Dress up clothes
and accessories
- Video games
- Jump ropes
- Pillow Pets
- Legos
Crafts & Activities:
- Journals
- Pens
in multiple colors
- Paint
and paint brushes
Health & Personal Care:
Gift cards ($10 and $20 increments):
Clothing (all sizes from newborns to teens):
/
/
Media:
- Young adult/teen novels
(Examples: Maze Runner
, Divergent
, etc.)
- Movies
(dvds) for kids
Related: 5 Ways to Find the Perfect Gift
Gift Ideas for Adults Living in Homeless Shelters
Household:
- Pop up hampers
- Flashlights
- Umbrellas
- Doormats
- Lap size quilts
/throw blankets
- Placemats
/napkin sets
- Scented candles
- 2017 calendars
Clothing:
- Pajama sets
/sweats
(all sizes)
- Slippers
- Underwear
(men’s
and women’s
/all sizes)
- Warm gloves
and hats
- Socks
(men’s and women’s/all sizes)
- Plain t-shirts
for tie-dying & bright colored dyes
Health & Beauty:
- Nail care kits
(clippers
, files
, polish
, etc.)
- Chap-stick
- Jewelry
- Makeup
- Lotion for sensitive skin
- Face washes
and moisturizers
- Hair brushes
- Hair accessories
- Stress balls
Crafts & Activities:
- 1000 piece puzzles
- Craft paints (acrylic)
and brushes
- Craft canvases
- Notepads
/journals
(purse sized)
- Writing pens
- Adult coloring books
(like Mandala
)
Gift Cards:
or 
Food:
General Items Always Needed (But Often Forgotten) at Homeless Shelters
- Deodorant
- Regular Size Soaps
- Single Use Shampoos
& Conditioners
- Underwear
in a Range of Sizes (for men and women: need both larger and smaller sizes)
- Varied Sized Bras
(don’t forget larger sizes
, too)
- Full Length and Short Length Socks
- Industrial Size Body Wash
- Wash Cloths
- Towels
- Razors
(men’s
and women’s
)
- Shower Shoes
- Pull-ups
- Baby Wipes
- Diapers
(size 3
, size 4
, & size 5
)
Wait. Pull-ups? Baby Wipes? 
I wondered what I could do to help. I’ve partnered with Huggies
diapers.
By the way, I love the benefits of being a Sam’s Club member:
- Free shipping on Diapers/Wipes. No need to shop in store. Have your order shipped right to your front door.
- Club Pick up. If you’d rather pick up your order, instead of waiting for delivery, order online and pick up in store. No waiting!
- Save time with subscriptions. Subscribe today and get your mus-haves shipped on a regular schedule of your choice.
Second, I donated the box of Huggies® Little Movers
5 Tips for Assembling the Perfect Diaper Bag
What are you diaper bag essentials? Pack the must-needed items you would make sure to include in your diaper bag for a busy mom on the go!
This great gift idea would include:
and 
What I Love About Huggies® Little Movers
• Shaped for fit and flexibility
• Available in sizes 3, 4, 5 and 6
• DryTouch® liner** absorbs on contact
• Double Grip Strips for a comfy fit that lasts
• Leak Lock Protection for up to 12 hours of protection
• SnugFit* waistband
• Features New Huggies® Brand Moving Baby System*
Only Huggies® diapers have a stretchy SnugFit Waistband to help our diapers stay in place like no other diaper. The unique contoured shape provides a comfortable fit and stays in place as babies move and play.
Now even more absorbent with new and improved LEAK LOCK®—the protection and security you both need between changes.
DryTouch® liner
Part of the new Moving Baby System*, the new DryTouch® liner absorbs on contact, so your baby stays dry throughout all of their little adventures.
Learn more about Huggies Little Movers diapers HERE.
Learn more about a Sam’s Club Membership HERE.
What would you add to this list of more than 100 items you can donate to make a real difference in someone’s life?
I am glad that you mention that there are a lot of items that homeless shelters need. With how simple some of these donations can be we can really volunteer to help. I think it would be really nice to help someone out who is in dire need of it. I really like that you mentioned diapers because that isn’t something I would have thought to be important but a lot of homeless shelters have children as well. That would really help them out.
I think it’s awful that people have to live in homeless shelters. I wish there was more I could do to help the people there, but this is a great list of things to give. This year, everyone in my family is going to donate at least one item to a homeless shelter. Thanks for the wonderful ideas!