Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
This is not necessarily stamping related but I thought SCS would be the best place to get the ideas
We want to make some gift bags for the women at the homeless shelter - this is a temporary shelter where women come just for the night. Based on my internet search I've collected - wool socks, washcloth, soap, trail bar and candy.
I was thinking of adding the following:
1. envelopes with stamps
2. altered mini composition book with pen
3. a nail polish
Do you think these would be helpful or are there other items that would be better? I want to put in an inexpensive "luxury" item and the best I could think of was a nail polish. Any suggestions are most welcome.
I want the items to be useful to them rather than they opening the bag and thinking what were these people thinking.
Just my take on this, but if it were me in that position , maybe reading something with a little inspiration on it -- like a magnet or key ring ?
Something with a positive vibe/thought ....
I think this is a wonderful idea. I wonder about the nail polish, though. It seems a little disconnected to what a homeless person would be concerned about. Some kind of hand lotion or moisturizer, a small tube of it, comes to my mind. That would be a luxury item, but it wouldn't require other items in order to be used (nail file, remover, cotton pads, etc,).
__________________ I have come to the conclusion that buying craft supplies and actually using them are two separate hobbies. RachelRose Designs by Robin... GALLERY
What about comb, brush that folds up small. Lip balm. Target has a tooth brush that folds into itself with a small tube of tooth paste. Maybe a small bag to hold the small items.
You could try asking the staff at the shelter what would be appropriate - as hard as we try, if you've never been in a situation it's really difficult to think yourself into the position of knowing what would be useful. For example, I talked to a friend the other day who works for a domestic violence charity and even she was surprised by some of the feedback they'd just had from women who use the service in terms of what controlling partners allowed them to have in their handbags, for instance. I know it's a different situation but in terms of thinking yourself into a really alien position it has similarities.
Things like magnets and keyrings for example seem very ordinary objects to us but if you have no home and no keys maybe a keyring is just a constant reminder of that? What surface would you attach a magnet to? The shelter staff could probably advise on what things would be most universally appropriate and you could concentrate your efforts accordingly. Like Takinmytyme I think I'd tend towards practical toiletry items (soap, lip balm, comb, toothbrush and paste) and maybe hat/gloves as well as the socks but I may be way wide of the mark!
I think it's a lovely idea to do something and the women will most likely take comfort from knowing that somebody thought of them at what is often a very difficult and lonely time of year.
What about comb, brush that folds up small. Lip balm. Target has a tooth brush that folds into itself with a small tube of tooth paste. Maybe a small bag to hold the small items.
Yes I got ziploc storage bags to put them all in so that they can be reused later. Since we're in a city where it rains a lot I figured it would help them keep whatever they want safe from the rain.
Travel toothbrush, toothpaste, first aid items (I always need bandaids and antibiotic ointment...paper cuts), nail file, hand lotion, multivitamins, small flashlight
Not very glamorous, but essential: feminine hygiene products and cleansing wipes.
For a "luxury," you can get E.L.F eyeshadows or lip glosses for $1 at Target. I would also love lip balm, especially if I am in a cold climate where my lips are likely to be chapped at some point. Or maybe even a small piece of jewelry (I mention this just because I was at charming charlie's tonight, and they have a ton of bangle sets for less than $10, and some on clearance, so you could probably get some bracelets for less than $1 each once you break up the sets....)
Just wanted to say it is such a nice thing you are taking part in. I would check with them and have them give you a list of suggestions. We are doing something for a local school and they sent us suggestions of what the kids needed (we are doing this for a school effected by hurricane Sandy...they had specific requests like socks etc.. Have a blessed holiday.
$5.00 calling cards are always appreciated here, bus tokens,
backpacks, socks, underwear, mitts & scarves if you live in a cold area, most items mentioned above (lip balm, small hand lotions, toothpaste & brush, comb, etc.) Keep in mind, people at shelters are generally transient so keep items small as they tend to pack what they have in a backpack or bag to carry with them
I used to volunteer at a family shelter and a drop in centre. The ladies really liked small makeup samples, the soaps and small perfume vials. They also really liked when clean underwear came in which was rarely. A hat/gloves really can carry the message of hope and someone is caring when you own nothing. I like the idea of something small with a message on it! Perhaps a small laminated card with something?
The envelope stamps is great however I am not sure if it would be used on a broad base rarely homeless ppl have all mailing addresses ect. If you had cards you could give to the centre then ppl could fill one out, or have help sometimes there can be high illiteracy rates and then a staff could mail it, if a mailbox is hard to get to? What about a loofa they are a luxury item that is small!
Everyone loves when someone cares about them, thanks for being that someone to these ladies!
I have never done this for a homeless shelter, the only one is hours away from me, but I am on the local Women's Shelter Board in my community. Lots of great ideas here...we used in ours a lot of what was mentioned, but again, these ladies aren't out on the streets, so keep that in mind I guess, changes what they can keep on their person for sure.
It truly puts it into perspective how blessed we are to have a roof over our heads as the winter weather quickly approaches. A couple things I didn't see mentioned were wash cloths, but maybe even better yet some type of wet wipe. I love the hat/glove/sock idea and I was thinking of maybe some individually wrapped candy that you could drop a few pieces into each or some chewing gum. The sample packs that you get from ex: Avon could always be a special treat.
We stamped paper bags and added a mini card that had an inspirational message on each one inside.
__________________ The way to knowLIFEis to LOVEmany things!- Vincent Van Gogh
I talked to the staff at the shelter and they said things like chapstick, hand lotion, tissue packs, lifesavers - anything that I as a woman would like. Of course not all women are same so a variety is good so that there's something for everyone.
She also mentioned that some women at the shelter go to work it's just that they don't have a place to stay and hence come to the homeless shelter.
Some of my thoughts were also the wet wipes, lip balm, maybe a pocket size mirror, little sewing kit (and I have donated some gotten from travel at some hotels), small first aid kit, or even a cute little packet with bandaids. There are cute emery boards, seasonal or feminine. Nail clippers, tweezers, or a small manicure set with several items in it (I actually keep one in my purse all the time that has clippers, tweezers, and an emery board in it, all in a small snap shut case) This time of year, there are a LOT of fuzzy "slipper socks" around- those would be nice and fun at the same time. Small hairclips, either plain or decorated? Scarf or bandana? Nail brush?
This is such a great idea! One thing I was thinking about was the scarf thing - if you knew of some people who could knit or crochet - it might be a luxury/practical item to receive a handmade scarf.
Yesterday we saw a homeless man and it was quite cold in the night. Our first thought was what would he do for cold. So I've been looking for economical ways to provide hats/gloves. I don't do knitting but I found some pattern for fleece hats. I figured I can do that and is very scalable!
Sunshine Mail Foundation (formerly Card Cupids) adopted a homeless shelter, and they requested toiletries. I got some great deals on ebay such as hotel soaps and shampoo lots.
Karen
I'm currently volunteering at a crisis centre. Here is a list of what women ask for.
Gloves
Underwear
Female products (pads) not tampons
Deodorant
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Hair brush
Lip balm and hand cream
Bus pass
Flashlight
Socks
List of important phone numbers (shelter, transition house, welfare office, hospital, etc.)
Gum
Water (they re-use the bottle)
The bus pass or tickets are huge where we live. Along with the gloves and socks.
wow i wished i had a centre near to me, i would love to help out but there is nothing around here! I do buy cheap dog food for a homeless mans dog and buy hot drinks for him.
I have gone to a few of my local hotels and gotten a box of the shampoos/conditioners for free for a project we were doing. Just speak with the manager on duty. the worst they can do is say no. then try the next hotel.
I have gone to a few of my local hotels and gotten a box of the shampoos/conditioners for free for a project we were doing. Just speak with the manager on duty. the worst they can do is say no. then try the next hotel.
Gift bag ideas for homeless women
