Sunday’s giveaway was another success! Thanks to the donors who contributed to the October giveaway. You really pulled through…we ended up with lots of toothpaste to distribute to most of the people in line! 25+ volunteers served 145 people in 35 minutes. That’s a record amount of time.
We’re often asked what is best to donate: cash or items. It’s your choice. If you donate cash via paypal, we’re able to buy most items in bulk (which is often a better deal). On the other hand, some people like to go searching for deals so they prefer to donate items (which is okay with us, too). Our amazon wishlist is always available as a reference. As we plan for the November 16th giveaway, here’s a priority list with convenient traffic light coding, just for fun:
LOW PRIORITY (We have plenty of these items & do not need more right now.)
shampoo
shampoo
conditioner
razors
soap bars
lotion
nail clippers
toothbrushes
MEDIUM PRIORITY (It’s always good to have more of these.)
travel size hand sanitizer
wipes
emergency blankets
underwear
wallets
HIGH PRIORITY (We really need these.)
toothpaste*
toothpaste*
dental floss (pick-style or traditional rolls)*
lip balm
travel size first aid kits
deodorant
socks
*It would be terrific if you could donate the toothpaste and dental floss ahead of time (as opposed to bringing it to the giveaway). While we usually don’t make giveaway kits, next month we are going to distribute small dental care packages that include a toothbrush, paste and floss. We have PLENTY of toothbrushes waiting to be paired with paste and floss. Having the paste and floss in advance will give our volunteers time to put them all together.
Remember to try on your winter gear. If it no longer fits, we’ll take it! Adult coats, jackets, hoodies, gloves, scarves, thermals, etc. Each month (November – February), a few of our volunteers will dedicate their time at the giveaway to helping people get ready for colder temps by running a Winter Wear station. If you have kid gear, please consider donating it to the Junior League of Austin Coats for Kids drive.
donations: red light, green light