Basic Needs

Baby Clothing

Programs that pay for or provide new or secondhand clothing and layettes for infants and young children.

Children's Clothing

Programs that pay for or provide new or secondhand clothing for children and/or adolescents.

Clothing Vouchers

Programs that supply coupons that can be exchanged in designated thrift shops or nonprofit organizations for clothing.

General Clothing Provision

Programs that provide clothing for people who need it. Available items depend on what has been donated and is on hand at any given time. The collection may include but does not specialize in children's clothes, work clothes, maternity clothes and shoes.

Winter Clothing

Programs that pay for or provide new or secondhand coats, gloves, hats, scarves and other winter clothing.

Work Clothing

Programs that pay for or provide new or secondhand uniforms or other working clothes. Also included are programs such as "Dress for Success" that provide interview suits and other professional attire for low income individuals (frequently women) who need this type of wardrobe to secure and/or retain gainful employment.

Bedding/Linen

Programs that pay for or provide new or secondhand sheets, blankets, pillowcases, bedspreads, curtains, towels and other similar household essentials.

Furniture

Programs that pay for or provide new or secondhand sofas, chairs, tables, beds, dressers and other necessary home furnishings.

General Appliance Provision

Programs that provide appliances for people who need them. Available items depend on what has been donated and is on hand at any given time.

Household Goods Vouchers

Programs that supply coupons that can be exchanged in designated thrift shops or nonprofit organizations for furniture, appliances, bedding and other household items.

Kitchenware

Programs that pay for or provide new or secondhand dishes, utensils, food storage containers and other cookware.

Small Kitchen Appliances

Programs that pay for or provide new or secondhand kettles, toasters, microwave ovens, blenders, toaster ovens and other kitchen appliances.

Identification Cards

Programs that issue documentation that is designed to prove the identity of the person carrying it.

Records/Licenses/Permits Fee Payment Assistance

Programs that provide financial assistance to help people pay for records, licenses, permits and other required documents in situations where they cannot otherwise afford them.

Laundry Facilities

Public or private facilities for washing, drying and ironing clothes that are available to homeless people, travelers and other individuals who do not have access to private laundry facilities.

Laundry Products

Programs that pay for or provide liquid detergent, fabric softeners, bleaches and whiteners, stain removers and other similar laundry products for people who need them.

Laundry Vouchers

Programs that provide vouchers which enable homeless people and others who meet eligibility criteria to use washers and dryers at participating to laundry facilities.

Hair and Nail Care

Programs, often available through senior centers, neighborhood centers, homeless shelters or drop in centers, or other similar organizations, that offer the on-site services of beauticians, barbers and/or manicurists for people who need to have their hair or nails done. Services may include hair coloring treatment, permanent waves, haircuts, shaves, wash and sets, manicures and cosmetic pedicures which improve the appearance of the feet and toenails. Also included are programs that provide haircuts for homeless people, children from low-income families returning to school and other targeted individuals.

Personal/Grooming Supplies

Programs that pay for or provide soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, combs, brushes, cotton swabs, deodorant, facial tissue, toilet paper and other personal hygiene/grooming supplies for homeless people and other individuals who need them.

Public Showers/Baths

Public or private organizations that provide showers, baths or other facilities where homeless people, travelers and others who do not have access to private bathing facilities can wash. Included are permanent shower facilities as well as mobile installations that can be moved from place to place. Also included are organizations that provide vouchers that people can use to access bathing facilities.

Discounted Internet Service

Internet service providers that offer their services at below normal rates for people who meet age, disability, income, need or other requirements.

Discounted Telephone Service

Telephone companies and wireless service providers that offer their services at below normal rates for people who meet age, disability, income, need or other requirements. Telephone equipment and/or cell phones may also be provided.

Mobile Devices

Programs that pay for or provide portable computing, communications or entertainment devices for use in a variety of environments. The devices typically have a display screen with touch input or a miniature keyboard and include personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld game consoles, digital cameras, portable media players, e-book readers, cell phones, pagers and personal navigation devices (PDNs). Some devices offer a combination of functions, e.g., most PDAs have features which allow them to be used as mobile phones or portable media players; and smartphones have advanced capabilities such as Wi-Fi and e-book reader features and function more like miniature computers with phone capabilities.

Public Internet Access Sites

Programs, often offered by libraries, cyber cafes, and a variety of other government, nonprofit or proprietary organizations, that provide on-site Internet-enabled computers for public access.

Public Libraries

Libraries supported by public and/or private funds which provide general library services without charge to all residents of a given community, district or region.

Telephone Facilities

Programs that provide access to a telephone for homeless people and others who need to make a call and are unable to pay for it.

Shoes

Programs that pay for or provide new or secondhand shoes. Included are odd shoe exchanges.

Christmas Baskets

Programs, generally supported by donations from the community, that attempt to facilitate enjoyment of the Christmas season by low-income community residents through distribution of food baskets which usually contain a ham, turkey or other meat and all of the trimmings for a Christmas dinner (or vouchers to purchase these items) and occasionally gifts for children or other family members.

Christmas Festivals

Programs that sponsor special events during the Christmas season which may feature decorated trees, displays of decorated wreaths, gingerbread houses, stocking parlors, food, entertainment, holiday crafts shopping, live reindeer and appearances by Santa.

Christmas Meals

Programs that provide a hot Christmas meal in a congregate setting for low-income and homeless individuals and families who might otherwise have no opportunity to celebrate the holidays. Also included are programs that deliver Christmas meals to people's homes.

Christmas Trees

Programs that make evergreen trees available to low-income community residents during the Christmas season.

Halloween Events

Programs that sponsor special events such as parties, carnivals, haunted houses or organized trick-or-treating expeditions for children in the community and other residents during Halloween.

Holiday Adoption Programs

Programs that sponsor "Adopt-A-Family" programs during the holidays which match people who want to provide personalized holiday assistance (usually gifts, an invitation to a holiday meal or party or a food basket) with an older adult, an individual with a disability, a low-income family or others in their community who would be unable to celebrate and enjoy the holiday without the sponsor's generosity.

Holiday Donations

Organizations that sponsor programs during any of the holidays which serve as a point of contact for people in the community who wish to make a donation (food, gifts, toys, money or other material goods) that will be used for seasonable charitable purposes. Included are organizations that provide central collection points throughout the area for donated toys and gifts, mall programs that encourage people to purchase a gift on behalf of a child during the Christmas season, programs that collect food items for holiday baskets and other similar initiatives.

Holiday Gifts/Toys

Programs, generally supported by donations from the community, that provide gifts such as clothing, toys and other items to help low income individuals and families, older adults, hospital patients and others celebrate any of the annual holidays.

Thanksgiving Baskets

Programs, generally supported by donations from the community, that attempt to facilitate enjoyment of Thanksgiving by low-income community residents through distribution of food baskets which usually contain a ham, turkey or other meat and all of the trimmings for a Thanksgiving dinner (or vouchers to purchase these items).

Thanksgiving Meals

Programs that provide a hot Thanksgiving meal in a congregate setting for low-income and homeless individuals and families who might otherwise have no opportunity to celebrate the holiday. Also included are programs that deliver Thanksgiving meals to people's homes.