I have heard our local areas meaning all of WV. shelters need food and I am sure for the animals also and warm blankets are needed for both ... I believe in the past our local supper markets had containers ... where you could drop off food for the poor and also help your animal shelters in your areas also ... those who participate in this ...really not sure who ran that program but I would hope they would start the large containers in each of our food stores where we stop to put in non perishables ... for our shelters and animals shelters to ... this is so greatly needed every yr ... their are to many that go hungry and this in the past seems to be effective for them ... and I also thank all of you who do participate all through the yrs ... and thank you all for your gratitude..

you can all ways go to the homeless shelters and drop off stuff , is what i norm do before i throw away anything

one mans trash is another treasure

and thanks for reminding people : )

awwww....

Many groceries and pet stores will let you "Round Up to the next even dollar or will start that if you ask them too and directly give the money to food banks to purchase the supplies they need the most often at deeply discounted large purchase discounts so really amplifying the donations.

My vet would often hold pet care=a-thons for Seniors/Disabled and Homeless and the "things" we donated for his annual parking lot sale went to cover only the medications and supplies he had to buy to provide the free care. All his staff donated their time.

For years I used to convert old tv consoles, cabinets, and storm windows to exotic pet cages and aviary's to auction because he saved my beloved pet. My Dad used to build small burial boxes for his vet's elderly pet owners.

I don't think I have ever thrown a way an article of clothing for the last 15 years I know or. I always donate and pet supplies etc. Can always be used.

This is't an on going thing this is something that should be done each and everyday.

thank you for reminding us.

it's not just food stores and pet stores that help out.

some events like our town's harvest fair significantly reduce the price of admission if people bring a canned good.
schools have food drives to help out.
our lical school district also has a policy of keeping list and found clothing items for only a week. after a week all items remaining get donated to local help agencies.

i noticed as i walked in to wall mart last night
they have a drop box at the front of the store to help kids out

it is about that time of tis the season ... but I also believe so many with bad weather ... are going to need help also ... I was told most places locally help families at anytime due to tragedies that happen in their lives ... I found it difficult when ask where will this go those said to another facility not even near where the donations where asked for ... I guess it surprised me ...thought I was helping our own towns where this store was located ... shrug...

I would add that if more people would plan ahead and prevent some of the waste of precious "helping" resources by preventing crisis by avoiding unnecessary addictions, unplanned pregnancies, home fires, and having not even short term resources such as first aid skills, a "pantry", and accessible home, enough home maintenance knowledge to do due diligence, and have and evacuation plan for "all" family members recovery would be faster and less costly. AND PREVENT so much suffering.

Thanks for the post and the reminder mysticalview21!!

I try to donate stuff that is not in horrible condition...now I am going to add going through stuff for donations to my to do list!!

Mystical, I just looked at your profile to see where you were from, the USA, I'm from the UK.
I find it hard to believe that we have to have charity's for our own but I can't help but applaud you for your humanity. God bless you.

thanks to all of you and for your kind words ... they have been doing a lot around here ... but I do ask where it is going to ... in some places in stores... and if they can not tell me ...then I do not give... really is pretty sad to know some children will not get anything for the holidays... even with food to ... here in the USA ... having these dilemmas ... when some peoples salary's can feed all of the USA ... just I really hate greed ... an those that have know kindness and only selfishness ...