Where do you donate? - Page 2

Cathe · #11 (**permalink**) 10-12-2008, 02:58 PM

We have a couple food banks as well as two shelters. One is for families and men, and the other is an "anonymous" shelter for women and their pre-teen children. Some of those women leave home suddenly and they have NOTHING. They always need HBA and things like that. If you don't know where to donate, ask at your church or the local welfare office.

WildeHeart2105 · #12 (**permalink**) 10-15-2008, 08:23 AM

Cathe - I am also donating to a battered women/children's shelter called Shelter House in my town. I (along with everyone else) have no idea where it is located at because they don't want any angry husbands/bf's finding out where their families are. Someone who works there will meet me in a local parking lot for pick up...the stories they tell are heart breaking (women showing up wearing garbage bags because they wern't 'allowed' to take any clothing while leaving!)

I'm stocking up on as much free Pert Plus, crest toothpaste and .25 cent dove bars as I can to take to them. I'm also going to go through my closet and get all of my good condition used clothes to donate. I wish we had a Rite Aid in town because I'd stock up on all the free medicine (after rebate) to donate as well. The families usually stay there for at least a few weeks before they are 'on their feet' again and need absolutely everything.

I also try to help the local humane society as much as possible. Have 4 bags of beggin strips treats I got for .10 cents each...will be getting a few more soon! I've also contacted our local Target to see if they would be willing to keep all their torn/damaged bags of dog/cat food so I can pick them up and drop off at the humane shelter. (I read somewhere that another Target is doing that).

I love being able to help - and everything is basically free!

Cathe · #13 (**permalink**) 10-15-2008, 11:40 AM

Oh, I didn't think of the humane society! I have been feeding free cat treats to my dog. He doesn't seem to mind....

alikat316 · #14 (**permalink**) 10-15-2008, 11:55 AM

My husband is a firefighter. So what I do is this

A couple months ago ( it was on the news ) a apartment building burned to the ground. I rounded up 30 boxes of cereal, 25 toothbrushes and toothpastes and about 20 razors and brought them to the families directly the very next morning. My husband was at the fire for over 24 hours came home showered and drive me back to the site so I could give the so called "goody bags" to everyone in need. People were still there crying, just waiting to go down and see how bad it was. I got hugs and cryed with them ( no pets survived), but it makes me feel great that I am helping the person directly then not knowing how gets my stuff if I donate it to a shelter. Don't get me wrong I think it is great that you do that I just enjoy giving to the family directly. Another example is ( MA, NH people will remember ) the Danvers explosion...my mom ( I learned rebating from her ) and I put together baskets and baskets of stuff for the families that had lost everything and we hand delivered them

WildeHeart2105 · #15 (**permalink**) 10-16-2008, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cathe

Oh, I didn't think of the humane society! I have been feeding free cat treats to my dog. He doesn't seem to mind....

It actually crossed my mind to see if my cats would like beggin strips lol!

SoCalMom · #16 (**permalink**) 10-16-2008, 07:54 PM

LOL

too funny

tdrshopping · #17 (**permalink**) 10-17-2008, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildeHeart2105

It actually crossed my mind to see if my cats would like beggin strips lol!

We had one that would eat them. She would shred through those tough bags then go to town.

MarlaSinger · #18 (**permalink**) 10-18-2008, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizandsasa

Has anyone thought of donating to a Seminary or College? We have a seminary located in Pasadena, Cali where men commit themselves to live there for two years while doing studies. They come from other countries and leave their families behind. They live off of donations such as personal hygiene products, cleaning supplies, clothing, food, etc. They live in very simple rooms nothing like a dorm. It's small with a bunk bed inside. I love donating to them as I know they appreciate it. Not that others don't but their decision and dedication to all things for God makes me want to do what I can for them. Just a thought...

My brother is a seminarian and he is not allowed to work while in school. To make it more difficult, his summers off are spent volunteering and doing internships. All of his tuition, board and room is covered, so he is stuck relying on personal donations for personal hygiene items, clothing, and gas money to come home on an occasional weekend.

A lot of more affluent benefactors will invite him to dinners/golf outings and the like and make it loudly known that they are pledging a certain amount to him, but too often, the money isn't seen for months, so he sheepishly has to come to family to ask for a few dollars to get by.

cboyer · #19 (**permalink**) 10-18-2008, 09:09 AM

do they have to take a vow of poverty? Im not kidding, i really don't know..I mean why would they have to do that?

MarlaSinger · #20 (**permalink**) 10-20-2008, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cboyer

do they have to take a vow of poverty? Im not kidding, i really don't know..I mean why would they have to do that?

I can't really speak for all seminaries, but I can tell you that my brother's (Catholic) they aren't really taking a vow of poverty, but they are expected to focus deeply on their studies, and are encouraged to spend any free time volunteering to give back to the community.

FWIW, he pays absolutely nothing for school. He takes out student loans and upon completion, the church pays everything. Food, room, etc are all included. He even has medical insurance (a very solid plan) at no cost to him through the school. It's really not a bad gig.