ADVOCAP’s Post

In-Kind Donations: A Call for Community Support. At Bright Path Center, we are reaching out to our network for in-kind donations that go beyond monetary value. The items you provide, from hygiene products to household goods and food, are crucial in supporting the well-being and dignity of those we assist. We're seeking: Personal care items like toothbrushes, deodorants, and sanitizers. Home essentials including twin beddings, kitchenware, and furniture. Food donations such as canned goods, cereals, and nutritious snacks. These contributions are invaluable as we strive to provide comprehensive support to our community members. Your donations can be dropped off at our location or arranged by contacting us. 📞 (323) 345-4322 | 951-682-0088 📧 info@brightpathcenter.org 🌐 brightpathcenter.org Join us in making a substantial impact. Your in-kind donations empower and uplift lives in more ways than one. #BrightPathCenter #CommunityEngagement #InKindGiving #SocialResponsibility #SupportServices #NonProfitSupport #CorporateGiving #Philanthropy #CommunityWelfare

Do you have any spare cans or dry goods in your pantry? Conversely, are you currently having a hard time getting food on the table? I’ve been getting more involved in mutual aid in ATX and was *so happy* to learn about ATXFreeFridge, a community-led project to help get necessary sustenance to people with food insecurity. The fridges are in easily accessible places around town, and volunteers help clean out the fridges and keep them tidy- all spots also have food pantry shelves! Donors can bring pantry staples, produce, and even pre-cooked meals as long as they are in labeled containers. ✨SO here’s a call to action- ✨ if you have some extra food (or even an extra $10 to get a few extra cans and bags of rice with), please consider looking at mutual aid options in your own community and taking the time to donate. And if you *need* food, your community may be a helpful resource to lean on in this time.

Our Crisis Response Teams work tirelessly to support those in need, but we can't do it alone! As summer approaches, our outreach efforts become even more critical, and we need your help to ensure no one is left without necessities. We are currently in urgent need of the following items to distribute to those living on the streets: 🫗 Bottled Water – Essential for hydration in the scorching Arizona heat. 🥨 Snack Foods – Nutritious snacks to sustain those in need. 🩲 Underwear – Clean undergarments for dignity and comfort. 🧦 Socks – Fresh pairs to keep feet healthy and dry. 🧼 Hygiene Products – Basics like soap, toothpaste, and deodorant to maintain personal hygiene. Your donations can make a world of difference. Please drop off your contributions in the front lobby of 3210 Grand Ave, Phoenix, AZ. Together, we can bring hope and relief to our community. #phoenixoutreach #homelessness #crisisresponse #donations #serveyourcommunity #communitysupport #giveback

As the holidays roll around, many Iowan families are left with higher bills to pay and less money to spend on basic necessities or groceries. This past month of November saw the highest amount of people utilizing the 14 Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) food pantries in their organization's history, and that number is only continuing to grow as cost of living continues to rise. In partnership with Lead DSM, I and other members of the Youth Leadership Initiative (YLI) were able to see the ways local organizations such as DMARC are meeting the food insecurity need in Iowa. We also learned from these organization leaders that one of the most valuable donations local food pantries and shelters can use is money. This is because DMARC is able to buy wholesale product for costs cheaper than you or I could purchase them, and ensure that the food they purchase are at a quality high enough to give to the members of our community. Additionally, these DMARC food pantries supply to not only their own sites but sites around the Des Moines Metro, such as Families Forward and Joppa. This means that a dollar for DMARC stretches far beyond DMARC and reaches hundreds more individuals. To help DMARC with their commitment to the community, my team within YLI has started a fund through DMARC's website in which anyone can easily donate money that will be sent directly to DMARC to spend in the ways that will best support our community. This donation you would give can be used in ways better than your time or canned goods can be used, and is the easiest way for you to give back this holiday season. When considering monetary donations, it is easy to question the impact one individual can have. However, DMARC can use less than $1 to provide one healthy meal to a person in our community. This also means that a single donation of $5 can feed a whole family. You can help ensure that the holidays are happy not only for your family, but the ones surrounding you, and you can do that by donating at the link below. Any amount helps. Do not dismiss the impact you as an individual can make. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for whatever you choose to give to help fight food insecurity in Iowa. https://lnkd.in/gDyu7HAu

‘Toughest winter yet’ as cost-of-living crisis dials up the pressure This year, many parents will be choosing between turning up the heat to keep their children warm or putting presents under the tree. Food banks and baby banks are bracing for a tough winter as more of us face difficult decisions between eating, heating and feeling clean. We know hygiene basics such as nappies, toothpaste and laundry detergent are the first basics to be cut. This Big Give #ChristmasChallenge week, EVERY donation we receive via The Big Give will be automatically DOUBLED. Donate now and support your local community to feel clean this Christmas. Together we can make double the difference. https://lnkd.in/eZqQRfKy #TheHygieneBank #HygienePoverty #EveryoneDeservesToFeelClean The Big Give Christmas Challenge: From midday 28.11.23 - midday 05.12.23, EVERY donation we receive via The Big Give will be automatically DOUBLED using match pot funds provided by The Big Give and some of our major supporters.

It’s the holiday season, what will you do to give back? There are many charities near and dear to my heart, but this time of year I like to focus on giving on a more personal level. Adopting a family helps to assure that children who may not otherwise experience the joy of Christmas can. If your church or workplace does this, please consider participating. Many people also donate to the food bank or food pantries this time of year. When you donate, please consider what is needed to make the food you have donated. Something like a box of macaroni and cheese can be useless to a family that doesn’t have milk or butter which the family may not be able to afford. Look for donation items which do not require things like milk butter or eggs, what are staples for most of us who have food, are likely not for those in need. Consider donating things you would not have considered before. Even people in need of food deserve food that tastes good- donate some spices that those in need may not be able to afford. Donate items a mom might use to bake a child a birthday cake- there are some complete cake mixes that need little other than water to make, add frosting and some sprinkles, good to go! Think about dry goods like rice and beans, that can be many cheap meals. Also, ask if they accept donations of other things like soap, toothpaste, deodorant, dishwashing liquid and even pet food. These things are hard to come by for those in need. Happy holidays and may giving provide you with holiday spirit deep in your heart! #givingseason #givingtuesday

As some of you might know, my parents have actively volunteered for many years at the Haven food bank in my community. Unfortunately they are facing severe funding challenges and they might be forced to close their doors at a time when demand is the highest it’s ever been. Please read, share and if you can donate. Note from the Haven: We are reaching out to you with an urgent plea. Without immediate financial support Haven on the Queensway is facing the imminent possibility of having to cease our operations. Closing our doors would be detrimental to our clients and community. Our Food Bank provides essential groceries to individuals and families who are facing food insecurity and over the past 24 months we have seen a steady increase of clients rise from an average of 450 to now over 1,000 every week. Current statistics reveal that 1 in 10 Torontonians are accessing foodbanks. Unfortunately, the demand for our food assistance has surged significantly, reflecting the harsh reality faced by many who are struggling to put food on their tables. Our Haven’s Closet has witnessed an overwhelming surge in need over the past couple of months. The demand for clothing has soared by 333%, jumping from an average of 30 new intakes to a staggering 130. These numbers reflect the stories of individuals and families facing a depth of challenges we could hardly have imagined. Recently, our First Care coordinator encountered a mother standing before her with her baby, expressing the desperation of having nothing to feed her child. The number of our friends experiencing homelessness served by our Hope with Wheels program has risen by 120% over the past year alone, emphasizing the critical nature of this outreach program. Our seniors rely on our deliveries of food and hygiene kits and look forward to our weekly friendly phone calls. The demand for these deliveries has surged with a long waitlist. Despite our unwavering commitment, we're confronted with the reality of growing operating costs and a significant shortfall in our financial donations which is putting the Haven in the very real situation of having to close in the very near future. We urgently seek your support to continue making a lasting difference to those in need in our community. Our immediate goal would be to raise an additional $100,000 in financial donations over the next 30 days and the Board of Directors along with our staff are actively looking for ways to reduce costs going forward. Please consider playing a pivotal role in sustaining these crucial programs by financially supporting us. Please visit our donation portal at www.havenontheq.org/donate to make a donation or to find out more about ways to give. All donations of $20 or more will receive a charitable donation receipt. Your support is the driving force behind our ability to make a meaningful and enduring impact in our community.

So excited for Blackmores Charity Drive this Friday! Can't wait to help these great causes & also promote sustainability & the importance to reuse as much as possible. As a member of the Blackmores Sustainability Committee (& resident hippie!) it is important we are continually driving to align our actions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. On this journey, it has sometimes been hard to see what you can do to make a tangible impact, the link below has been a great help, it is an action list which breaks down the 17 UNSDG into 170 actions anyone at work or at home can achieve. https://lnkd.in/eniq8TpV When comparing our Blackmores Charity Drive against the UNSDG & this Action List it was surprising how many goals it supported! Goal 1 No Poverty Action 2 Donate old clothes or household items to those in need Goal 4 Quality Education Action 40 Participate in an environmental committee at your school or workplace Goal 5 Gender Equality Action 44 Donate to organisations that support female green entrepreneurs Goal 8 Decent Work & Economic Growth Action 79 Advocate for corporate social responsibility Goal 10 Reduce Inequalities Action 94 Help foodbanks and homeless centres to offer nutritious and sustainable food Goal 11 Sustainable Cities & Communities Action 109 Organise or participate in a market & give old things a new life Goal 12 Responsible Consumption & Production Action 112 Reduce, Reuse & Recycle & Action 120 Donate your clothes instead of throwing then away Goal 13 Climate Action Action 126 Organise green initiatives in your workplace Goal 17 Partnerships for the Goals Action 161 Bring sustainable values into your workplace So remember... We don't have to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in the process of change. Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world. Howard Zinn For Angie x

FAQ: Do you only take donations of food? We accept donations of both money and personal hygiene products (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, female items, diapers, etc.) There's an area in our pantry specifically for toiletries, clothing that's suitable for the season, and diapers. In short: Yes! We'd love your help. 💙 #donate #toiletryitems #helpothers

Share your world beyond screens 🖖 When I first encountered the initiative below, I felt the same sense of amazement as the author of the post. However, in my comment, I delved deeper into why the subject of this initiative, the soap itself is so necessary. Moreover, if this initiative is noticed by those who generate soap waste, such as hotels, they themselves become the catalyst for soap waste, as hotels might rely on it as a "sustainable" way to justify soap usage and disposal. I didn't perceive bar soap as mainstream due to regulations in healthcare and hospitality sectors that may hinder its adoption as a cleaning accessory. ⚖ On the other hand, in my posts, I emphasize the importance of every initiative, whether individual or collective, that contributes positively. Whenever I come across UNISOAP's initiative in my feed (which happens frequently), I'm reminded of that ongoing debate and feel it hasn't reached a conclusion for me. My arguments stem from decades past when bar soap was the primary option for handwashing. I know firsthand the inconvenience of slipping around the bathroom. My arguments also draw from my experiences in any public space I enter. I can't help but notice the tons of plastic gloves wasted at grocery stores, the lingering presence of face masks, and the excessive packaging of mini soaps, most of which end up as waste themselves. I couldn't ignore the possibility that this amazing initiative might provide an excuse for those who waste resources. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆. I still believe I'm not alone in reaching a similar conclusion when learning about UNISOAP. 𝐻𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟, 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑐𝑢𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑡, 𝐼 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑧𝑒𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑠 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑦 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡. 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬' 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐢𝐟 𝐰𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐫. UNISOAP stands up for its beliefs, refuses to let the past hold them back, and by maintaining a positive outlook, they might reclaim soap's reign in the battle for cleanliness. Congratulations to UNISOAP; you've sparked an internal debate within me, and through that, you've gained a new ally. 💞 #sustainability #criticalthinking #soap #perspective #positiveimpact 🚰 Why bar soap? 👇 👇 👇