52 Holiday Wishes for DV Shelters

I love being home for the holidays. Baking with my kids. Decorating the house. Wrapping presents. Listening to Christmas music. I relish the scent of apple cinnamon cider, sugar cookies and banana bread. I don't even like to travel during this time. I just want to enjoy the comforts of home.

I can only imagine how lonely and strange it could feel to spend the holidays at a shelter. Even though some of our shelter offer the best of services. It's still not home.

So I asked shelters what they need most at this time of the year.

I got an overwhelming response. Here are 52 of the most-named items. That's one item for every week in the year!

1. Cash donations. These will help cover anything from higher heating bills to transportation to additional staffing needed during holidays.
2. Gift cards of all types -- gas, grocery, restaurant, department stores, movies, etc.
3. Shampoo and conditioner
4. Ethnic hair care products
5. Soap (all kinds -- bath, liquid hand, laundry and dish)
6. Dryer sheets
7. Baby shampoo
8. Deodorant
9. Toothpaste and toothbrushes
10. Feminine hygiene items
11. Disposable razors
12. Diapers and pull-ups of all sizes
13. Baby wipes and diaper ointments
14. Eyeglasses -- because theirs might have been broken
15. Towels and wash cloths
16. Bed linens and pillows (twin size was the most common requested -- but check with your local shelter to be sure)
17. Flatware
18. Cups
19. Dishes
20. Pots and pans
21. Mixing bowls
22. Trash bags
23. Paper towels
24. Toilet paper
25. Tissues
26. Napkins
27. Cleaning products like Lysol, bleach, Pine Sol and other multi-purpose disinfectants
28. Light bulbs
29. Can openers
30. Bandages
31. Over-the-counter medicine for children and adults -- all kinds
32. Thermometers
33. Canned food
34. Cookies are a welcome treat at the holidays!
35. Cake mixes are nice to have on hand for birthdays.
36. Specialty drink mixes like hot chocolate and apple cider.
37. Perishables like ham and turkey -- just check with your shelter first to make sure nothing will go to waste.
38. Crayons, markers, glue and craft supplies
39. DVD players and non-violent DVDs
40. Board games (rotating selections makes a big difference in a shelter)
41. Books for kids
42. School supplies like pencils, notebook paper and folders
43. Furniture -- especially cribs, dressers, bed frames, etc.
44. Underwear (new -- all sizes for women and children)
45. Cold-weather clothing like hats, gloves, scarves and coats
46. Shoes including boots, tennis shoes and slippers of all sizes for women and children
47. Socks of all sizes
48. Professional clothing for women heading back to work
49. Pajamas for women and children
50. Baby strollers
51. Baby monitors
52. Volunteers! To read or play games with children. Teach residents a new skill. Serve on the board.

Have you worked at a shelter? volunteered? been a resident? We'd love to have you add to our list! Let us know what your shelter needs!

Stacy Graves is contributing editor of The Mary Kay Foundation℠ blog and loves every minute of it! You can connect with her at stacy.graves@me.com, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest.