National Give Something Away Day is on July 15, and the day celebrates exactly what it sounds like: how good it is to give items to those who really need them.
Shelters that serve homeless and struggling populations are always great places to bring your brand-new or gently used donations. It turns out that while pretty much anything can be donated, there are some items that are always needed.
Here's a list of 10 items that shelters always need for anyone who is planning to celebrate the day on the 15th and also just any time it feels right.
Toiletries and Bathroom Products
If you use it in your own bathroom, odds are it would make a great donation. Shampoo, conditioner, and soap can all be donated in regular sizes or even in travel sizes. Other helpful items include floss, toothbrushes and toothpaste, toilet paper, unscented deodorant, body lotion, hair combs, and wet wipes.
Items for Feminine Hygiene
Living in a shelter definitely doesn't stop a woman from getting her period. Tampons, pads, and menstruation cups are all amazing items to drop off as donations. While many shelters prefer items to be in their original packaging, consider adding resealable plastic bags to the drop-off so the items can be divided up and protected from the elements.
Socks and Shoes
A lot of us probably take having many pairs of clean socks for granted, but many people who receive donations from shelters don't have that luxury. Donating pairs of clean, unused socks for adults and children is a game-changing move. You can also cut the intermediary step and donate socks directly to people you see on the street.
Underwear
Much like socks, having clean underwear each day is an easy thing to rely on. Shelters can definitely use donations of brand-new underwear for children and adults. After all, no one should have to wear the same underwear day in and day out, and it's an easy donation to make.
First-Aid Kits
Another great item to donate is anything and everything you would put in your own first-aid kit. Items include Band-Aids and bandages, gauze and tape, antibacterial gel and cream, and more. Gloves are a huge win for donation-based shelters and the people they serve.
Blankets and Outerwear
Coats are often in short supply at shelters, and blankets can be tough to find, too. While it's not helpful to donate a coat, jacket, or blanket that's ripped up, gently used items are often accepted at most shelters. Just wash and dry it first!
Baby Items
Many people who receive help and donations from shelters have a pressing need for one category of items: baby stuff. Babies are everywhere, and every parent knows they need a lot. Disposable diapers top the list of most useful baby items to donate, but so are baby nail clippers, Vaseline and petroleum jelly, and books.
School Supplies
School-age kids are also the recipients of items donated to shelters, and they need plenty. Think everything you go to Target for each August: backpacks, lunch boxes, notebooks, binders, pens, pencils, and even paper.
Earbuds and Noise-Canceling Headphones
Many people who primarily live in shelters or on the street have a common enemy: all the noise. Donating clean earbuds and headphones that cancel out noise can go a long way in lowering that daily experience to a manageable hum, buzz, or even silence.
Cleaning Supplies
This is an item that can benefit families and shelters alike! The staff at shelters have a major need for items to clean with. These include towels, paper towels, bleach, bathroom cleaners, window cleaners, laundry detergent, mops, and brooms.
