Collecting Items for the Homeless

Hi L.,

it is good to encourage your daughter to help others. What group is she doing the service project for and what organization will benefit from her actions and the donations?? What items is she trying to collect? All of this information should be conveyed to potential donors. Maybe the service group members could also support her efforts or the organization to benefit could help her spread the word.

Walmart is one of the few stores that you can ask for permission to set up a table outside for such a project. but it is up to the individual manager. With the holidays approaching, there are already a lot of organized efforts. (salvation army, toys for tots)

One idea might be to visit people having garage sales and offer to pick up items that are not purchased that could be donated. A lot of people forget to call a charity pick up in advance, so after the sale they may have stuff to donate instead of hauling it back into the house. Good luck to you and your daughter!

I have never made such a request from a local store, but my suggestion would be to call a local radio station and ask if they would give you a chance to talk about it on the radio. It might be as simple as a phone conversation or maybe you and you're daughter could go into the radio station and have an interview done. If a radio station isn't interested you could always call a local news channel or even post an ad on craigs list about collecting clothing for the homeless, if you're not comfortable placing your address on there you could always have items sent to the local post office of P.O. Box.

Actually I have asked managers of stores to make a donation. The manager at Walmart may just give her a store item for example. Go with her so that he/she realizes an adult is overseeing. It certainly could not hurt. I had the manager of Academy give me an entire basketball set up for a charitable event. I would think grocery stores would be a good idea as well.

In my community there are a number of orgs that collect and take donations. As I speak, there's a group in front of our Wal-Mart right now collecting canned goods for our homeless shelter. I think it's a fraternity or sorority from the college. Anyway, it would probably be more productive if your daughter found an established group in your area and aligned herself with them. Frankly, I always hesitate giving things or money to individuals who aren't associated with some organization with whom I am familiar.

usually it depends on the manager I think. Cannot hurt to ask. What about asking neighbors- can hand out flyers in the neighborhood and then give them a few days to look through their closets and such... then come back and pick up. the boy scouts do this with a can food drive every year.

It's an awesome thing to do.

I don't have an answer to the walmart question, but what items are you seeking for donation? I may be able to send some your way.

You might go to some thrift stores too. If your daughter tells them what it's for, they might donate some items or let her purchase for a few cents, hats, gloves, etc.

T.