Senior homelessness is on the rise 💔 Here's a way to help
"I still have the blanket on my bed" - Sherry, a local senior helped by Wings
How often do you use your broom? A bowl? Soap? Paper towels?
These items are often out of reach initially for someone moving from homelessness to housing. Many times they are moving into housing with few, if any, belongings - and not things like a dustpan, dishes, or pillows. But they need them. That's where we come in. We want to make sure that everyone getting housed has what they need to succeed in their new housing, and has what they need to make a house a home - especially our senior citizens.
There has been a rise in senior homelessness as seniors on a fixed income are priced out of their homes. There are more seniors living in their cars, which means they can’t keep their basic household items long enough to move into new housing. They often move in with nothing and sometimes they are sleeping in a chair or on the floor.
And that's where you come in. We're trying to raise $6,000, enough for 10 households to get stabilizing services of a bed, bedding, and essential household supplies (see full list below). Any amount helps us reach our goal - and your donations on Giving Tuesday are matched dollar for dollar by Ocean Honda and XL Construction, up to $3,000. So join us in helping get 10 more households what they need to make a house a home!
The seniors we help not only need these items, but they keep using them. We visited a client we served last year and she served us coffee in the mugs we brought her. The broom from her Welcome Home Package was in the corner. And the blanket was folded on her couch. When you help us supply these crucial items, it doesn't just help once, it's a gift that keeps on giving. Your Giving Tuesday gift will go exclusively to our Welcome Home Program.
Here's what each household gets with our Welcome Home packages, which cost us an average of $600 per household (where else could someone get all this for that amount!?):
- Mattress
- Bed frame
- Mattress protector
- Sheets
- Pillow cases
- Pillow
- Blanket
- Broom
- Sponge mop
- Dustpan
- Toilet plunger
- Toilet brush
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels
- Trash bags
- All purpose cleaner
- Dish soap
- Sponge
- Serving/stirring spoon
- Spatula
- Kitchen knife
- Can opener
- 2 bowls, 2 mugs, 2 drinking glasses per person over age 6
- 2 dish towels
- 2 kitchen towels
- Silverware (2 small spoons, 2 large spoons, 2 forks, and 2 knives per person over age 6)
- Shampoo/conditioner
- Toothbrush
- Tooth paste
- Razors
- Deodorant
- Feminine hygiene products, if applicable
- Body soap
- Clothes hangers
- 2 pairs of socks
- T-shirt
- Underwear
- Laundry bag (for dirty clothes)
- Laundry basket (for clean clothes)
- Laundry soap