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These Are the Items Homeless Shelters Need Most This Year

(Plus, a list of items they probably don't.)

Three individuals smile while assembling care packages with personal hygiene items, promoting community service and engagement. The vibrant teal background enhances their collaborative spirit, showcasing volunteer opportunities and civic involvement.

On any given day there are 600,000 people experiencing homelessness in America, and about one-quarter of them are teenagers or children. Ready to Do Something for local young people in need? Here is a list of items homeless shelters could likely use, and a list of things they probably won't accept.

(Still feeling unsure about what's ok to donate? Call your local shelter and ask! They'll be glad to hear from you.)

Here are some daily essentials most shelters really need:

An arrangement of dental care items including a tube of toothpaste, two red toothbrushes, and a container of wet wipes. These hygiene essentials promote community health and well-being through accessible volunteer opportunities.
An assortment of essential items including a box of corn flakes, a bar of orange soap, and a box of tissues. These items represent nonperishable food and hygiene products, highlighting opportunities for community support through donations.
A collection of personal care items including a red hairbrush, a container of deodorant with a blue lid, and a roll of toilet paper. These essential items contribute to hygiene and self-care practices for individuals in community service and civic programming.
A collection of essential health and comfort items: a box of period products, colorful striped socks, and a package of sterile band-aids. These items support community well-being and promote personal care.

These are items you should avoid donating:

An assortment of items including perishable foods like broccoli, eggs, milk, and cheese, colorful candies on sticks, and a stack of twenty-dollar bills. These items represent various community resources and needs, highlighting the importance of food security and financial support.

Provide daily essentials to a local homeless shelter!

DoSomething.org is the largest not-for-profit exclusively for young people and social change. Our digital platform is activating 6 million young people (and counting!) to create offline impact in every US area code and in 131 countries.

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