Checkout our Upcoming Drive..............
Youth both on the streets and in housing are in constant need of hygiene supplies, clothing, and food. School supplies help us stretch the budgets for our education programs and support students enrolled in traditional high schools and community colleges. Bus tickets get these young people to job interviews, medical appointments, shelter, and other services.
But hosting a drive doesn't just help provide these and other much-needed items. It's one of the best ways to raise awareness in the community of the challenges facing its homeless youth. Your business, organization, school, church, or other community group can make a big difference by hosting a drive and spreading the word, thus helping us to meet present needs and attract broader support. Find out more about our year-round needs and our current needs.
Thinking of planning a drive in a few months? Here are our upcoming seasonal needs.
Fall/Winter:
Warm Clothing Drive (sleeping bags, blankets, coats, thermal/wool socks, hats/gloves/scarves)
Winter Holiday:
Holiday Drive (mp3 players, headphones, hoodies, gift cards, make-up, sports equipment)
Spring:
The Basics Drive (underwear, jeans, t-shirts, backpacks, toiletries, pillows, twin-sized sheets)
Summer:
For the Girls (underwear, bras, tampons/pads, unscented lotion, African-American hair products)
Late Summer:
Back-to-School Drive (backpacks, flash drives, alarm clocks, composition notebooks, art supplies)
Year-round:
Clothing, hygiene supplies, and gift cards
How to Host a Drive
In-kind donations play an important role in helping us keep costs down and meeting the needs of homeless youth. The list of current needs changes depending on the time of year, and there are ongoing items that are always necessary and useful in this work. You can help — and help us inform the community and mobilize its support. Once you determine the items you will be collecting, here's how to run a great drive:
Spread the Word
Most people want to help: they just need to be asked. You can send emails, use postcards or flyers, or post to Facebook, Twitter and other social media. Bring up the drive at meetings and group gatherings. Host a party and ask guests to bring a donated item. Ocie Lewis Support Staff can help with drafting language and by providing brochures, postcards, and other collateral.
Make it Easy to Donate
Have a central location for people to drop off their items. For office or school drives, make sure you have collection boxes in several locations. You can also collect items during a holiday party or office gathering. Monetary donations, including gift cards, are also welcome; in many cases, they're the best option for youth finding what they need and getting the right fit.