What do needy families really need?

Question

I am heading my department's donation to a Thanksgiving basket program at work. We have the dinner covered, but I'm wondering what types of items are really essential for struggling families. Should we include things like toiletries, paper products, etc? We don't know who the family will be, so specific items for boys or girls is no good. I'm looking for general things that no family should have to live without. I'd really like to make our basket more meaningful than just one good meal, so any suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

A good job!

Answer 2

First of all, I commend you for your generousity, it will certainly go along way.
Needy families are hungry for more than food. They of course need money, but that is not something that should be put in the basket to be used in an undisclosed manner.
They need hope & love.
In addition to the meal you are graciously providing you may want to include a vegetarian option, cranberry sauce (of course) and maybe a loaf of bread. I know my family cherishes the leftover turkey sandwiches almost as much as the real meal :)
Maybe you could also include a hope candle (just a little votive) with a kind message attached.
You could also add your contact information, as one person already stated. This would give the family a chance to say thank you, in which case you would be able to determine how needy and how grateful they truly are.
You could also put a phone card in the basket, to give the family a chance to contact their long distance relatives. Holidays and Thanks are truly about family, so that might be a kind gesture.
Lastly, what about a game, a book, some winter gloves or a hat. Or you could include a $20 giftcard to a local grocery chain incase you unknowingly missed something the family loves, like basic milk, butter, or any other perishable that probably wont make it in the basket. I'm sure your kindness will go along way, and the creativity you put in the gift will not go unnoticed.
Happy Holidays to you!

Answer 3

Giving food item is not a bad idea. Finding out the age group of the needy family is the best. That is what we do in the church for our Christmas Outreach program. Maybe you include some things for hygiene, like toothbrush, tooth paste, soap or some personal stuff like Free Size T-shirts, a reusable bag for putting all the things in rather just a basket. If there are children, old but still usable story books and coloring books plus crayons a good idea to give too

Answer 4

Thanksgiving celebration connotes at least giving thanks for having the basic needs in life. Of course, number one in the list is food. It's hard for a hungry person to think right or do the right thing. Starvation could lead to anything worse. And too, clothings is next. Winter is coming so they need warm clothes/blankets for obvious reasons I don't know about giving cash. I am afraid that the needy family would end up buying the stuff that they don't really need. I remember a panhandler I met on the street who was begging for money because, he said, he was hungry. I invited him to go to the nearest fastfood restaurant so I could buy him some food but he refused and insisted for money. I did not give in. I heard from a lot of my co-workers that he was a drug addict. There are some fast food restaurants that donate coupons for free food. This would be a good idea because coupons could last. God bless you for your humanitarian act on Thanksgiving day.

Answer 5

A year ago, I would have loved to have had someone like you stop by. We had times where we wondered whether we could stretch our food. So thank you for taking the time to do this.

Some good ideas, would be to look for food items that can be saved for later. Canned goods or boxed foods are a great idea.

Here are some other suggestions

AA and AAA batteries
Toilet Paper
Paper towels
Bandaids
Soap
Shampoo
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Loaves of bread
Peanut butter
Canned Meat
Lightbulbs
Dish soap
Boxes of Kleenex
Pens
Notebooks
Phone card (comes in very handy if you have your phone disconnected)
Feminine hygiene products
Handsoap
Powdered Milk
Bisquick
Canned vegetables or fruit
Cans of Tuna
Cans of soup
Rice
Spaghetti
Spaghetti Sauce
Possibly a gift certificate to a grocery store

Answer 6

For Thanksgiving, along with food, some dish soap, reusable dish cloths, a couple of kitchen towels, a set of silverware, a set of dishes or paper plates and plastic cups, a cutlery set, a set of tupperware containers for leftovers, a nice scented candle with a holder that has a Thanksgiving theme, a good sized pack of napkins or paper towels, tin foil....
Just some ideas. Depending on your budget, a combination of the things above would be awesome for a family in need. Of course this is aside from showing love and compassion and praying for the family.

Answer 7

Opportunities to support themselves - e.g cinema or bowling for the family.
Toiletries
New bedding
Selection of board games
A range of story books - to allow family 'together' time
Maybe some luxury items - like a joint of meat & all the trimmings
Considering the time of year - how about some pantomime tickets - but include transport there and back (Oh - and some nibbles for the interval)
OK the above aren't essentail - but they sure as hell would help the kids feel normal at school for a day or two

Answer 8

Many food banks and therefore the food baskets they provide are filled with food that is the lowest level subsistence - processed and low nutrition content and high carbohdrate. Out of date white bread, pastries, cakes - and junk food should not go into food baskets but do.

You probably won't go wrong if you concentrate on providing content that mirrors the quality that you use yourself. Especially where the food is concerned - like whole grains and really good quality canned goods. If you are giving something that will be delivered immediately - then frozen and fresh fowl, and fruits and veggies. But even for other things such as you mentioned above - same story. If you want to do something for kids there are lots of things appropriate for both boys and girls (mp3 players etc etc - the same things your own kids like).

Answer 9

Paper products, Hair Shampoo & Hair Conditioner, Anti-Bacterial Soft Soap ($3.30 Gal. at Big Lots), Dove or Dial Bar Soap, Clorox Cleanup (for countertops), Windex, (If Pets-IAMS Dry or Canned Food), Nestle or Lindt Chocolate.

Answer 10

Toilet paper, soap, dish soap - all the things you would not spend money on if you were just getting by. Our scout troop use to collect hats, gloves, socks, underwear, sweat suits in kids sizes and donate them to the school nurses. Any kid that got wet or dirty at school would be given these items so they would be warm and comfortable - it was usually the poor kids that were not wearing these items to begin with that got them. It was a discreet way to get them underwear and socks.
Just an idea. And there is probably a struggling family right in your department - look for some one who has a sick spouse.

Answer 11

Yes, definitely the toiletries along with winter coats and mittens and food. Shampoo, deodorant, TP, even paper towels, diapers, dishwashing soap, detergent, new sponges. Think about when you were in college and what you didn't have or only could afford rarely. Whatever you give someone who's struggling, it may not seem important, but that's one less thing they have to buy that week or month.