Since So Many Are Layed Off Or Need A Extra Hand And A Lot Of People Here Have Stockpiles You Might Want To Share A Few Things With Those Who Need A Hand Up .
I Just Read On Another Site That Tampons And Pads Are In Great Need At Shelters Along With Anything Else You Would Like To Donate.

That's a good idea. I have started getting things that I normally wouldn't , like free after rebate at Rite Aid or CVS Extra Bucks, because someone else could use them . Lots of times I will take them to work and see if anyone wants them, or just donate at church, they almost all have food pantries or stuff for people in need. This is definantly a time that we all need to think long and hard about maybe what we could do to help someone else out. I don't think by a long shot that we have seen the worst of these expensive times.

I try every day to pay it forward..little and big things...It makes me feel good.

edited to add...I had a great teacher. After my dad died (he had been working as a janitor at a local Vo-Tech school, the woman who taught cosmotology came to see me with tears in her eyes. She wanted me to know, her neice was in a horrible accident, needed a special wheelchair, and her insurance would not pay for the whole thing. she held both of my hands, spoke sternly as tears flowed down her face. She told me my dad picked cans for a whole year for her niece, and got her $1,000 so she could get the special wheelchair she needed.
Thats an example that hard to beat (only I didnt know it until after he died). my dad had no money but took care of lots of folks. He had his own ways, and in these tight times, it never hurts to be a bit creative in helping our fellow man (and women and children lol)
I always tell my kids to "do the right thing", and sometimes I am surprised at the kindnesses they are capable of.
There is another person on these boards who grown extra vegetables in her garden to give to a single mom and an elderly person. That kind of kindness is hard to beat.

I am constantly getting free things with coupons and others that are nearly free that I'd never use. I take all of it right to our church pantry. The girls there are always amazed at what I get and they've actually started doing the samething!

DH and I live on a farm and have donated a whole hog to a non-profit home for the last 6 years. We also take any extra veggies we have there too.

Thanks for the reminder. It's nice to do something to help others. I've been putting off taking some food to the local food bank...I just couldn't seem to get it together. Last week I said enough is enough and made myself go through everything and bag it up. I had alot of pasta and cans of vegetables. I'm glad that I drove up there and finally did it. Now I need to sort through all of this Softsoap and shampoo/conditioner and give them some of that stuff. It does no one any good just sitting here. ~Lisa

Lisa, if there is a womens shelter near you, they might really appreciate the toiletries. esp some shampoo or bodywash that smells nice....Maybe you could contact a public office to direct you where to go. When my kids outgrew their baby stuff I donated it to a womens shelter...they were glad to get it. I also found about 12 packs (yikes) of diapers my kids outgrew and never used, I donated those too...sometimes those ladies take off with the clothes on their back and thats it.
Also, if you have a garage sale, and your clothes dont sell, our local soup kitchen has a clothing room. Anyone can take anything, no questions asked. I keep a box in the corner of my bedroom for outgrown, unwanted clothes to take there...Winter coats are a big need...
I always keep that picture of my Dad walking up the road picking all of those cans in my minds eye. there had to be a million of them, maybe more...all that, just to help someone out.

I have been buying packages of things taking one or two out and giving them to my neighbor saying "we don't like this kind" or "I can't use this".
I also do what some of you do giving my free samples and clearance stuff to shelters, missions, people I know who need it, etc.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I'm looking forward to the 'Back to School' sales that Target usually has on Crayola crayons, gluesticks, etc. Our church usually collects as much school supplies as they can for a social worker, who distributes them to schools in very needy areas. Usually the name brand crayons are 5 boxes of 24 for $1.00

GREAT thread, OP!

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

I usually give food to North Fulton Community Charities...but giving the makeup, perfume (from the great CVS sale!), shampoo, etc. to a womans shelter would be even better. I found one nearby called The Drake House. I'm going to get it all together and run it over there Thursday or Friday. Thanks for the idea and inspiring me! Yes, it is a great thread...thanks! ~Lisa

My DH passed away 18 months ago. I had/have lots of his stuff to find homes for. I am saving the very best stuff for his best friend who hasn't been able to come get it yet (lives out of town), but I still had lots of clothes. I've given quite a few to the Cooperative Care that is ran by some of the local churches...I took them canned food that was his taste & not mine..toiletries and lots of everyday clothes. I was going to throw away his underwear as I thought no one would want it...I have a dear elderly friend that had volunteered there for years who told me "Myrna - would you rather have NO underwear or used underwear?"...So even the underwear found a new home. The older underwear did get thrown out, but I had just bought him quite a bit of new stuff a few months before he died.

We have a new thrift shop that has just opened up. Their proceeds go to help children of incarcerated people. I'm donating as much as I can to them now, as I feel this is a worthwhile charity.

A few months ago there was a wildfire in a small neighboring community. There were 24 homes lost. I sent down some more of my DH's clothes, plus some household goods left from my Mom's house after she went to the nursing home.