ABW — Wish Lists

Updated 7/26/2010

Hours for Drop-off: Mon-Fri, 8:00am-noon, 1:00pm-4:00pm only.

With a shelter that operates 24 hours a day, not to mention a host of other non-residential programs, our needs far outstrip our abilities to keep pace with them. Thanks to our generous supporters, we are better able to give the people we serve what they need to live with dignity and hope. If you are so inclined to give a gift of goods, here are some suggestions:

Items of greatest need:

Bath towels
Body lotion
Boy's t-shirts (sizes 14-20)
Deodorant
Facial tissues
Hair grease (hair food)
Hair brushes (stiff bristle style)
Nightwear (summer night gowns and light weight pajamas)
Women's underwear (sizes 5-11)

School Supplies:

Backpacks/Book bags
Calculators
Colored pencils
Composition Notebooks
Erasers
Folders
Highlighters
Index cards
Lunch boxes
Markers
Pencil cases & sharpeners
Pens
Scientific calculators
Scissors
Spiral notebooks

Christmas Items:

New toys for all ages- especially for infants and teens
Sports balls-i.e. basketballs, soccerballs, footballs
DVD players
New hoodies/New Clothing for kids for all ages and sizes
MP3 players
Earbuds/headphones
Make up sets
Art supplies for older and younger kids
Remote control cars/trucks
New Bathrobes- for Moms
We do NOT need any more Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders games!

Baby Items:

Baby bottles (Evenflo)
Baby bottle brushes
Baby lotion
Crib sheets and blankets (new)
Pediatric electrolyte (8 oz. 4/6 pack)
Umbrella strollers (new)
Wash cloths

Personal Care Items: (regular size, please, NOT travel or trial size):

Anti-bacterial cream (e.g., neosporin)
Combs (heavy duty only)
Vaseline

Clothing (new only - in unopened packages):

Boy's boxers (10-12, 12-14, 14-16)
Flip flops and slippers (for women & children)
Teen boy's socks
Women's bras (sizes 34-36 B, 48C, 40-48 D, 46 DDD, 52 D-DDD)

Summer Clothing (new or gently used):

Boys' clothes (little sizes 2T-4T)
Boys' shoes (little sizes 1-13)
Girls' clothes (little sizes 24m, 2T, 4T, 5/6, 10-16)
Girls' shoes (little sizes 10-13, 5+)
Maternity clothes
Sweat pants/lounge pants
Women's tops and T-shirts (extra large)
Women's pants (sizes 5/6, 11/12, plus sizes 1x-4x)
Women's shoes (sizes 5-12+)

General Supplies:

Art therapy supplies - watercolor paper, watercolors, scissors, construction paper, embroidery hoops
Dinnerware (melamine)
Dish pans
Dish towels
Disinfectant wipes
Ironing board covers (full size)
Irons (regular or auto shut-off feature)
Journals, pocket calendars, small planners (2010)
Knitting needles, crochet hooks, yarn
New toys (especially for teens)
Paper towels
Silverware
Toilet paper
Umbrellas
Yoga mats

Cell phones:
We would ask that you take them directly to your nearest Verizon Wireless retail outlet (they needn’t be Verizon Wireless phones—they’ll take any brand). They will then ship them to a central facility, where the phones are refurbished and redistributed to agencies nationwide (this is where we get any phones we need—we can’t use phones directly donated to us, but must give them to Verizon Wireless before they can be reused).

ITEMS WE DO NOT NEED: (because we can't use them or have enough right now)

Aerosols of any kind (set off fire alarms)
Any used items that are in need of repair or that are otherwise not in good used condition
Books (of any kind), VHS tapes
Candy/sweets for kids
Furniture, appliances, televisions
Hair spray, nail polish remover, mouth wash (hazardous materials)
Mini/trial-sized items (shampoo, soaps, etc.) (most residents are in the shelter a month or more, so such small items don't last nearly as long as needed)
Pencils, tooth brushes, shampoo, razors (have enough)
Sidewalk chalk, used balls
Stuffed animals (health hazard)
Suitcases (have enough)
Used baby items (cribs, car seats, strollers, exersaucers, etc.) (safety hazard/recall)
Used socks and underwear (this type of clothing MUST be NEW and in unopened packages)

Friends,

Due to sorting, storage and redistribution costs, ABW cannot accept items that are not on our wish list of current needs. Also, some used items cannot be accepted due to health codes.

Donations of items ABW or our clients do not need increase our costs and diminish our resources to help clients. We have to be careful with our limited dollars, now more than ever.

The next time you’d like to donate, and we hope you will, please check our wish list for our current needs, which can change depending on recent donations. You can check our wish list 24/7 on our website at www.abwrochester.org or call during weekdays at (585) 232-5200 ext. 224.

If you have items to donate that are not on our wish list, holding a garage sale and donating the proceeds is another way you can help.

Thanks for your very kind intentions to help us and our clients. We appreciate your taking our needs and constraints into consideration when making future donations.