Seattle's Union Gospel Mission lists its biggest needs on its website. Near the top: men's pants, toilet paper, individually wrapped snacks, new underwear still in the package, and new socks.[1] Nothing on it is surprising, and that's the point. For donors asking what do homeless shelters need most, this list points to plain, everyday items rather than the things in the back of a closet. Here's what shelters ask for, what they turn away, and when money does more than a bag of donations.
What do homeless shelters need most?
These come straight from shelters' own needs lists and from organizations that work with shelters.
1. New socks
Delivering Good, which began a sock campaign in 2016 and has distributed over five million pairs,[2] says socks are the single most requested item by homeless shelters and one of the least donated.[2] Buy new, in adult sizes, in packs.
2. New underwear
Seattle's Union Gospel Mission asks for underwear that is new and unopened,[1] and Springfield Rescue Mission in Massachusetts[3] says undergarments and socks must be purchased new.[3] Donors should treat that as a firm rule, even for used underwear that looks fine.
3. Toiletries, new and travel-size
Travel-size toothpaste, deodorant in any size, and new travel-size hygiene items are all on Union Gospel Mission's list of biggest needs.[1] Springfield Rescue Mission says feminine hygiene products are in constant need.[3]
4. Everyday supplies the shelter itself uses
Toilet paper is on the Seattle list,[1] and so are paper plates, bowls and hot cups.[1] New bath towels are in high demand too, because so many people pass through a shelter's doors.[4] Donors who want to cover what keeps a shelter running day to day can start here.
5. Food that keeps
Individually wrapped snacks[1] and shelf-stable food[1] are both on Union Gospel Mission's list. United Way Greater Toronto points to shelf-stable proteins like beans, tuna and peanut butter as items that never go to waste.[4]
6. Clothing basics and comfort items
Men's pants top Seattle's list,[1] and backpacks are on it too.[1] New slippers for adults and children are highly sought after,[4] and seasonal clothing such as winter coats is useful as the weather turns.[4]
New or used: what homeless shelters accept
Policies differ, so donors should check before giving anything used. Springfield Rescue Mission accepts clothing and shoes that are gently used and freshly laundered,[3] but undergarments and socks must be new,[3] and toiletries can't be opened or used.[3] United Way Greater Toronto notes that many shelters don't have the capacity to launder used clothing, so new is usually the safer choice.[4] Anyone with good used coats or bedding should call the shelter first.
What not to donate to a homeless shelter
Springfield Rescue Mission publishes a list of items it is not able to accept.[3] A few of them:
- Used mattresses, because of bed bugs.[3]
- Car seats[3] and cribs,[3] which fall under federal safety guidelines.
- Clothing with stains, tears or fading.[3]
- Toiletries that are expired, opened or used.[3]
Most shelters also can't take leftovers like party platters, because of health and safety rules,[4] and furniture is hard for a shelter to store in the meantime.[4]
Unusable donations aren't harmless. Springfield Rescue Mission says it has paid extra dumpster charges and trucking costs to haul unusable clothing to a rag recycler.[3]
Money or items?
Both help, but differently. Donated goods can add storage and distribution costs for a charity, and may not meet its most urgent needs.[5] Needs also shift through the year: United Way quotes Steve Doherty joking that shelters are always thinking one or two seasons ahead.[4] Before giving items, check that last spring's list still reflects what the shelter needs this winter.
For donors who want to give items, the most useful habit is simple: check the shelter's current list, or call ahead and ask what it's accepting.[4] For donors who want their gift to be both specific and useful, the middle path is to fund items the shelter has asked for by name.
A homeless shelter donation list to take with you
- New socks, adult sizes, in packs
- New underwear, unopened
- Travel-size toothpaste, deodorant and hygiene items
- Feminine hygiene products
- Toilet paper, paper plates, bowls and cups
- New bath towels
- Shelf-stable food and individually wrapped snacks
- Men's pants, backpacks and new slippers
Treat this as a starting point, and check it against the shelter you're giving to.
Funding a charity's own list on Aid Registry
On Aid Registry, verified charities post the exact items they need. Donors fund those items, and Aid Registry buys them and ships them to the charity, so the charity receives the things it asked for and donors don't have to shop or drop anything off. Every donor gets an emailed tax acknowledgment. Read more about how Aid Registry works.
Browse live campaigns and fund the items a charity has asked for by name.
Frequently asked questions
- What do homeless shelters need most?
- Shelters' own lists put new socks, new underwear, travel-size toiletries, feminine hygiene products, toilet paper, towels and shelf-stable food near the top.
- Can I donate used clothes to a homeless shelter?
- Some shelters accept gently used, freshly laundered clothing and shoes, but socks and underwear should always be new. Call the shelter before donating anything used.
- What should you not donate to a homeless shelter?
- Common no's include used mattresses, car seats and cribs, stained or torn clothing, opened or expired toiletries, and leftover food. Each shelter has its own list, so check first.
Sources
- Needs List | Seattle's Union Gospel Mission | Seattle's Union Gospel Mission, ugm.org
- One Million Pairs of Socks Campaign – Delivering Good, delivering-good.org
- Undie Sunday - Springfield Rescue Mission, springfieldrescuemission.org
- What to donate to homeless shelters and what to skip - United Way Greater Toronto, unitedwaygt.org
- Give.org and BBB Advise Hurricane Donors to Support Experienced Disaster Relief Charities - Give.org, give.org