Toiletry Drive - Donations for NOLA Homeless Community - PAY IT FORWARD!

As the Holidays approach...I ask you to consider donating your extra toiletry items (or if you are a couponer - donate some of your freebies!)

 

Toiletries (soap/toothpaste/shampoo, etc) are staples in our homes  and we take them for granted as a basic necessity. However, to homeless people living in the New Orleans area, they don’t have a home, much less staple items to store in it.

The homeless don’t have a place to live nor do they have a place to eat a good meal.  Instead, the homeless stand in line to receive a hot meal and a few basic necessities at Bridge House/Grace House, which opens their doors in New Orleans to all in need throughout the year.   

Their next big event is THANKSGIVING DINNER FOR THE HOMELESS (to be held at 1160 Camp Street on NOVEMBER 24) and CHRISTMAS DAY (December 25) and they need your help! 

My children, ages 6, 9, and 16, and I have had many experiences volunteering at Bridge House’s Homeless Dinners. I can’t even begin to explain the feeling I have when the homeless are so appreciative to receive a plate of food or a gift bag of toiletries. I have sat at the table across from strangers listening to their stories.  They are people just like you and me. Sometimes they have children, which is heartbreaking.  They have been forced to a life on the streets due to bad luck, bad circumstances, bad economy, loss of income, and many other issues that we too face in our lives.

I have to say volunteering my time has been the most HUMBLING experience. It has taught me to appreciate what I have, no matter how little, because someone else literally has nothing. It warms my heart when my children want to provide their own special treasures to give to the homeless. It’s a start of a lifelong giving desire that I hope they will continue into adulthood.

My hope is for us to come together to reach out to those less fortunate.  But how can we help? Easy! There are always more people than toiletries available to be handed out.
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So my goal from now until Mid December is to create a Toiletry Drive to help the homeless in our area.  Here are a few ideas: 

1) Simply clean out your closet and consider donating all those hotel samples that you swore you needed when you checked out the hotel, but just shoved in the closet since then.

2) Purchase items to donate. This is a great opportunity to have your children get involved in picking out items to donate and help them to understand on a small level that there are people that don’t even have the basics.

Travel sizes:)

Suggested Items: Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Soap, Shampoo, Conditioner, Shaving Cream, Razors, Deodorant, Lotion, Body Wash, Mens/Womens Underwear (any size- Womens underwear must be New), Mens/Womens Socks (can be new or used). Small bottle/travel sizes preferred, but any donation is appreciated.

3) Drop off old blankets and coats. Remember it’s even colder on the street. It gets cold quick on the streets and the demand is much bigger than the supply!

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Any of the above items can be dropped off directly (through Friday December 15) to one of the locations listed below:

1) Bridge House/Grace House – 1160 Camp Street (NOLA) or 4150 Earhart Blvd (NOLA) – let the front desk know it’s for the “Homeless Dinner”

2) I also have a toiletry drop off box at my home in Harahan or my mom’s home in Mandeville.  Please email tiffsdealsnola@gmail.com for the address!

3) If you have a local business that would like to be a drop off point, please email me ASAP at tiffsdealsnola@gmail.com - I would love to make this BIGGER and BETTER! 

METRYCHICK in Lakeside Mall is accepting donations:) Located by J Crew in the mall!

FULCOS BAR - 519 North Turnbull, Metairie is accepting donations:) Hours are 12 noon-10 pm

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If this isn’t for you, please consider helping the community in your own way. All that matters is we reach out to those less fortunate that truly need our help.  Every day is a new day and a new struggle – the least we can do is make the simplest of items available to them.

A local blogger (Northshore Mama) has created a PAY IT FORWARD page - Geaux Be Kind - where you can document your random acts of kindess (like this one!) to help just make the world a better place!
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Please share this with others who may be interested in helping the less fortunate in our community! To contact me - please message me on facebook thru TIFFS DEALS!