AUSTIN, Texas — As you prepare to do some spring cleaning, before you throw out those household items you never really got around to using, consider donating them to the Salvation Army's Austin Shelter for Women and Children.
Corey Leith, communications director for the Salvation Army, explained that donations for the center are at an all-time low.
"This is the lowest we've ever seen it here, so that's why this is such a huge cry of help to get the community to help donate these items because we are in desperate need," Leith said. "A family of a mother and a child, mother and three children exiting the program, we can't provide them with pots and pans, we really have minimal stuff. So it's really difficult for us to make sure they're getting the items that they need in order to be successful."
The Salvation Army accepts household items to later give to families and mothers with children who eventually leave the shelter to help them lead self-sufficient lives.
"We as the Salvation Army want to fill their house up with appliances and stuff like that to give them that extra step of help, but when we don't have any of those items here, it's really hard to help them out long-term," said Leith.
In 2018, The Salvation Army’s Austin Shelter for Women and Children provided shelter to 244 families and served 27,783 meals.
Examples of different household items that are needed include:
- Bath mats, paper towels, toilet paper, towels
- Cups, mugs, plates
- Brooms, mops
- Cleaning supplies
- Cutting boards, kitchen utensils, knife sets, silverware
- Lightweight blankets, pillows (new), sheet sets
- Small lamps
- Pots, pans, pot holders
- Trash cans
Community members can donate anytime between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week at the shelter located at 4613 Tannehill Lane, Building 3, Austin, TX 78721.
You can also donate items listed in the Salvation Army Wish List, which can be found here.