Another (In) Kind of Giving: Part 1

There is something magical about Monday mornings.  I know that may sound crazy, so let me explain.  The weekend is over, and it’s back to work or school—back to the grind.  Enter work day routine here—alarm, breakfast, coffee, ride on a crowded metro, more coffee, arrive at work. Now, here is where the Calvary magic comes into play—you open your office door to find a large stock of supplies waiting for you—sheet sets, toiletries, cleaning supplies, towels—all dropped off over the weekend by generous donors for the women of Calvary.

Sound a bit far fetched?  It’s not.  While it may not be every Monday that I walk into an office full of goods (though it is fairly often), Calvary does receive an incredible amount of support through in-kind donations.  Last year, in-kind donations were valued at just over $40,000, and so far this year, we’ve already reached $44,000.  Even after a year of complete economic turmoil, people are showing abundant support for organizations in need.

Like our volunteers, our in-kind donors come from both near and far, and represent many different communities.  We receive in-kind donations from law firms, church groups, families, students, and past volunteers.  Even our current volunteers, who already give the gift of their time, find ways to donate needed items to our programs.

We make good use of all these items, too.  Often times, when women come to Calvary, they have very few personal belongings.  The ability to provide clients with clean bedding, new towels, toiletries, and pajamas, is not only a luxury, it is a necessity.  Items such as metro passes, which can provide a woman living at Calvary with the fare needed to travel to a doctors appointment, or movie or museum tickets, which can provide a social excursion for the women, may not be viewed as essential, but are still highly prized.

So, what happens to a donation once it is delivered to Calvary?  Where does it go? How is it used?  Stay tuned for a post next month to learn all about the life cycle of a donation, from drop off to distribution!

Interested in making a donation?  Here’s our current Wish List Top 5:

1.  New sheet sets (twin)

2.  New blankets/comforters (twin)

3.  Cleaning supplies

4.  Storage bins

5.  Metro passes/bus tokens

For more information, or questions about in-kind donations, please contact Catherine Bisson at cbisson@calvaryservices.org or 202-289-2111.

Click here to view our complete Wish List online!