Items Needed for Fall/Winter at Lifebridge

It’s time to face the fact: summer is over. It’s a sad time, but at least we do get to experience some beautiful autumnal scenes in New England.

For people living on the streets, cold weather brings many different challenges, which is why your support of charities, like Lifebridge North Shore, who have housing programs to lower the number of homeless on the streets, is vital.

Donations come in all shapes and sizes, whether it’s a service, fundraiser or a physical offering.

Unsure of what items our food banks and shelters need during the colder months? Here are some ideas to get you inspired…

Food donations

What are your favorite things to eat or drink during the fall and winter? Soups, hot chocolate, squash, pie…? All these things are a treat for the people within our shelters. The ideal donations will be items that can be used in bulk, as this is how we cook in our kitchen.

Items we frequently need include:

Milk
Coffee
Peanut Butter
Breakfast Cereals
Fruits & Vegetables
Cheeses
Drink Mixes
Sugar

You could even host a food drive within your local community!

Clothing and more

Keeping warm is a big problem for people experiencing homelessness. As you’re probably well aware, our climate in Massachusetts gets extremely cold, and those on the streets need all the help they can get.

Donations of blankets, sweaters, sleeping bags, heating pads, thick socks, gloves, and general items one needs on a cold day are all a blessing to the people we support.

Other items we always need include:

• Underwear
• Deodorant
• Razors
• Shaving Cream
• Shampoo & Conditioner
• Tissues
• Toothbrushes & Toothpaste
• Tide Laundry Pods

Lifebridge Thrift Shop

If you want to donate items to our thrift shop in Salem, the money goes towards our emergency shelter, support services, and permanent supportive housing. Why not select a couple of winter items for yourself while you’re there?

If you’re ever in doubt about what items to bring to Lifebridge Northshore, head to our In Kind Donations page.