Another (In) Kind of Giving: Part 2

Last month, I shared how important in-kind donations are to the women that live at Calvary.  Just incase this is your first time reading Calvary Comments, or you’re an avid reader in need of a bit of a refresher, here’s a snapshot:

• Last year, in-kind donations were valued at just over $40,000.
• So far this year, we’ve already hit the $44,000 mark.

“Who’s donating?”, you ask. We receive in-kind donations from varied sources—law firms, church groups, families, students, as well as current and past volunteers. The items donated vary as well—toiletries, bath linens, sheets, blankets, pillows, non-perishable food (coffee, cereal, etc.), cleaning supplies, and other items off of our wish list.

So what happens to a donation once it is dropped off at Calvary?  The first stop is an inventory by staff or a volunteer. A running tally of items donated not only helps us keep track of items we have, but items we need, as well. At this point, all donations are separated and sorted for easy storage and access by our team of Case Managers.  A small amount of necessities are kept on the main floor, while the remainder is moved to our basement for storage.

To keep donations fresh and clean in the basement, all items are stored in bins.  This summer, a generous amount of storage bins were donated by a team from Legacy for Health, located just down the road from our Calvary Women’s Shelter. To aid in the organization process even further, two groups of volunteers who recently joined us from South Carolina and Wisconsin, completely revamped our storage space from top to bottom.

When a woman moves into Calvary, she is provided with the necessities needed for a fresh start. Clean bed linens are laid out for her so she can make her bed.  Pre-made toiletry kits and towels are given out. Even items such as laundry detergent and pajamas can be supplied on a case by case basis. These are not extravagant provisions—it is often the items you and I take for granted that are the most needed by our clients.

Interested in making a donation?  Here’s our Wish List Top 5 for August and September:

1.  Cleaning supplies

2.  Powdered laundry detergent

3.  New blanks/comforters (twin)

4.  New sheet sets (twin)

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!