With just days until Christmas, local nonprofits are still gathering goods and help for needy people in the community.
Marion County officials issued a list last week of where donors can make a difference.
If you know of another nonprofit that has a holiday project under way, send an email with details to [email protected] and we’ll update the list.
Meantime, see if you can find among these needs something you can help with.
ARCHES Project of Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency
The ARCHES Project serves the homeless and housing insecure populations of Marion and Polk counties. Our mission is to bridge the gap between homelessness, to housed, to self-sufficiency.
Ways to Give: Warming center supplies: coffee, garbage bags, tea, creamer, sugar packets, hand warmers, socks, and sweat pants with drawstrings.
Day center supplies: coffee, creamer, sugar packets, hand warmers, blankets, and sleeping bags.
Basic needs: feminine hygiene supplies, shampoo/conditioner, toothpaste, tooth brushes, band aids, and packaged snacks.
Monetary donations: ID assistance, motel/hotel stays for families and people who are medically fragile, and camping supplies.
Volunteer: Contact Kaylynn Gesner to volunteer at warming centers.
Details: Donations can be dropped off at ARCHES located at 615 Commercial St. N.E. Monetary donations are accepted online.
Contact: Ashley Hamilton, associate program director, at 503-399-9080 or [email protected].
Be Bold Street Ministry
Be Bold Street Ministry organizes outreach activities to provide for the homeless and hurting.
Ways to Give: Supplies for homeless individuals including coats, sleeping bags, shoes/socks, thermals, toiletries, pants, hats, gloves or any other cold weather items.
Details: BBSM has partnered with Cafe Shine to provide a restaurant-style sit down breakfast once a month and organizes a community birthday event in July at Marion Park. Volunteers visit homeless camps with donations of clothing, food, and supplies. For more information about Be Bold Street Ministries visit the website or Facebook page.
Contact: To donate, contact Matt at 971-273-8086 or Josh at 503-576-9388.
Boys & Girls Club of Salem, Marion and Polk Counties
Serving Salem, Keizer, and Woodburn
Ways to Give:
Needs for youth:· New shoes and warm clothes for kids in grades 1-12; fleece for no-sew blankets (2-yard sections).
Details: The Boys & Girls Club provides after-school and summer programs for youth in grades 1-12, with a special focus on youth from disadvantaged circumstances. Items can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1395 Summer St. N.E.
Contact: Elizabeth at 503-581-7383 x10 or [email protected]
Head Start & Early Head Start of Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency
Serving low income families with children ages prenatal to 5 in Marion and Polk counties by providing support, social services, and preschool opportunities.
Ways to Give: Community Action Head Start and Early Head Start is accepting items for parents and children.
Items for parents: bus passes, gas cards, and gift cards or season passes to family friendly locations to encourage parent and child interaction.
Items for children: pants for sizes 12 mo. to size 7, warm coats, shoes, or volunteer in our classrooms.
Volunteers and donors can help sponsor a parenting class or one of our family events which include bowling night, Tulip Festival, and a bike and trike rodeo.
Help is sometimes needed to transport families to appointments or school or volunteer at the school.
Details: Items can be dropped off at 2475 Center St. N.E., Salem, at the front desk between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Contact: Kyle Miller at 503-581-1152 x1134.
HOME Youth & Resource Center
Serves at-risk and homeless youth age 11-18
Ways to Give: Give the gift of hope and stability and sponsor a youth seeking shelter at Taylor’s House for $125 per night. Gift cards for youth to shop for their specific needs (examples include Amazon, Target, Walmart, Subway, Dutch Bros., and others). Monetary donations can be made online or by mail or in person at 625 Union St. NE, Salem. The age range is 11-17 and 18 if still in high school or actively working on a GED.
Details: HOME Youth & Resource Center operates a drop in day center and emergency overnight house for minors called Taylor’s House. Both are open 365 days a year. Annually, HOME hosts a large Christmas party for more than 80 youth at the drop in center. This year’s event is on Dec. 21. Please deliver donations by December 19.
Contact: Shain Oleson at [email protected] or 503-391-6428.
Liberty House
Liberty House offers a safe, comfortable, child-friendly environment for children and their families facing concerns of abuse, neglect, trauma, or grief.
Ways to give: Donations of food, goods, or monetary donations.
Details: Donations are always needed of snacks, bottled water, gift cards, therapy supplies, and office supplies. A full wish list can be found online or on Amazon. Monetary donations can be made online. All donations are tax-deductible.
Contact: Adrienne Christian at [email protected] or 503-540-0288.
Mobile Hygiene Unit – United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley
Ways to Give: United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley is seeking donations for a mobile hygiene unit to deliver access to basic hygiene for unsheltered community members. United Way is currently seeking socks, underwear and bras, hoodies, stocking caps, and gloves.
Details: Monetary donations can be made online.
Contact: Visit the United Way website or call 503-363-1651.
Salem Leadership Foundation – Room in the Inn
Ways to give: For the eighth year, Salem Leadership Foundation is inviting friends without homes to a two-night stay and four meals at Aldersgate Camp at Christmas. Sign up to provide a practical Christmas gift bag.
Serve at the event December 23-25:
· Meals: serve and share in one of the four family-style meals;
· Setup and cleanup of the camp facility before and after the event and for meal times;
· Participate in or plan a relationship-building activity (gingerbread house-building, board games, hearing stories, prayer times, Christmas card-making or other craft projects); or
· Participate or lead music for any of the four meal times.
Details: Sign-up to volunteer or to provide a welcome bag.
Contact: D.J. Vincent at [email protected].
UGM of Salem – Christmas
Ways to give: Donate food items: breakfast items (milk/milk alternatives, oatmeal, eggs), canned fruit, spaghetti sauce, coffee, sugar, potatoes, green beans, olives, celery, mushrooms, butter, sour cream, pickles, bananas, salad dressing, canned yams or sweet potatoes, cucumbers, carrots, cherry tomatoes, oranges, apples, assorted pies, cool whip, croutons, onions, punch, turkey broth, stuffing, jello, dinner rolls, marshmallows, French fried onions, cream of mushroom soup, and cranberry sauce.
Details: Donations of food can be dropped off at the Men’s Mission located at 345 Commercial St. N.E., Salem. Items such as clothing and household items are accepted at the UGM Donation Center located at 1100 Front St. Donations can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Donations of food, clothing, and household items are accepted at Simonka Place. For information about donating to Simonka Place contact UGM.
Contact: Hannah Berry at [email protected] or 503-967-6388.
