Below are fun ideas for toy or item drives! Undie Drive The Shelter is always in need of clean, new under things for children of all ages. Diapers and pull-ups Training bras through "C" cup Boys' undershirts Boys' boxers and briefs, all sizes Girls' underwear, basic (no thongs) sizes 3-12 Long johns Ankle socks, boys and girls Sports bras Boys' and girls' gym shorts Bathing suits, boys and girls, all sizes Back to the Top Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic Drive Children who have been abused or neglected are often developmentally behind other children their age. Our licensed staff works to bring their skills up to the level of their peers. Help them by doing a drive for educational toys and learning tools. Exercise books for reading and math Compasses and protractors Mechanical lead pencils Binders Folders Dividers Leapfrog products Discovery toys for toddlers Pencil Math and Spelling Flashcards Educational, non-violent computer games Calculators Gift cards for museums, educational events and bookstores Novels suitable for teenagers Back to the Top Arts and Crafts Drive Activities keep the kids busy after school while helping to develop their creativity, motor skills and confidence. Kids' craft scissors Butcher paper Watercolor paint sets Construction paper Coloring books Crayons Washable markers Glue and Tape Ribbon and wrapping paper Stickers & stamps Gel pens and notepads Sketch pads Colored pens/pencils "Fuzzy posters" and pens Gift Cards to Hobby Lobby or Michaels Other artsy craftsy stuff! Back to the Top Beauty Drive Sometimes a little grooming goes a long way towards making a girl feel special. Help teenage girls in the Shelter by having a fun donation drive for much-desired beauty products. Manicure/pedicure kits Make-up (lip gloss, eye shadow, etc.) Costume jewelry African American hair care products Nair Hair remover Combs, brushes, purse-sized mirrors Hair Dryers Hair curlers, crimpers and straighteners Body lotions, soaps, sprays and scrubs Nail polish and nail polish remover Hair accessories (clips, bands, pins, etc.) Gift cards from Bath & Body Works, or Target Rubber bands for braiding Safety and cordless razors Back to the Top Spring Cleaning Drive 14 kids and 2 adults in one house? That's a lot of cleaning! Help the shelter maintain a clean, safe environment for the children we care for. Paper towels and Toilet Paper Resolve carpet cleaner Easy-Off oven cleaner Laundry Detergent,40lb buckets Clorox bleach & spray Pine Sol, scented or unscented Lysol cleaner, scented/unscented Windex - Glass cleaner Old English-wood cleaner & polisher hand bacteria cleaner Comet & Soft Scrub 409 window & grease cleaner Dish detergent Lemon Pledge Pledge Aerosol air freshener Various sizes of plastic trash bags Soft soap, (naturals), one gallon & individual squirt bottle (Paper plates & cups) Teflon cookware Quart sized zip-loc bags Bathroom cleaners hand washing products Hot pads Color safe bleach Dishwasher detergent Back to the Top Full Bellies Drive Feeding 14 kids a day is no small feat! A good way to help the Shelter offset costs is to do a grocery drive. Have everyone in your group be in charge of a different item, which they can buy when they go to the grocery store for their own families. The house parents would really appreciate your group preparing a meal at the Shelter, grilling out, or bringing a prepared meal to the children! Breakfast cereals & bars Canned/Potted meats Crackers and chips (no sugar) Crockery such as Corning ware Cutlery, silverware and cooking utensils Dried beans & pastas Pasta sauces in jars Healthy snack bars Juices (orange, cranberry, grape, fruit mixes) Plastic dinnerware and cups Plastic wrap, foil, freezer bags, ziplocs Pots and pans (nonstick) Microwave popcorn Juice Boxes (Real fruit juice) Lunchables Back to the Top Baby Drive Babies require a lot of extra care (and extra stuff!). Help the Shelter care for its babies by having a baby drive. Especially great for groups with lots of parents who may have leftover baby supplies around the house. Baby Food (like Gerber) Baby cereal Diapers, all sizes Pull-ups Baby Bottles (and new nipples) Baby dishes and utensils Sturdy high chairs Sippy cups Enfamil, with iron, milk-based powder Pediatric Electrolyte Similac Advance Infant formula (liquid and powder) Baby wipes (unscented) Unscented Baby lotions, shampoos and soaps Pedia-sure Strollers, single or double Baby socks Baby Formula, all kinds Back to the Top Warm & Cozy Drive Help the Shelter provide warmth through the winter for the kids. Coats, Jackets and Sweatshirts Toe socks for girls Jeans (new or good condition) for all ages Warm socks, all ages Slippers, all sizes Boxes of kleenex (for those winter colds!) Hats, gloves and scarves, all ages Plastic storage bins School shoes (new or very good condition), all ages Athletic Shoes (new or very good condition) all ages Back to the Top Out and About Drive When school's out, we pack the kids' days with plenty of activities that provide fun and learning. It's called the Summer Recreation Program. Sometimes, even just a trip to the movies can be a welcome summer treat. Gift Cards or Passes to: USC Sporting events (other than soccer or volleyball) Bowling Circuses Pizza place or deli Kids' plays, magic shows, storytelling, etc. Schlotsky's, McDonald's, or other restaurants Baseball or football games Movies Museums Roller Skating Blockbuster Video Putt-putt Golf Ice Cream Frankie's Fun Park and Pizza Puppet shows Back to the Top Happy Home Drive The Nancy K. Perry Children's Shelter is the foundation on which we build our services. Help us keep the Shelter and vehicles in top shape so that we may continue to provide a safe, secure environment for the children. Hand tools (wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers) Heavy-duty electrical cord Battery powered tools A/C tester gauges Drills (hammer, etc.) Water hoses Gardening tools Edge Trimmer Step ladder (aluminum) 10-30 motor oil Shrubs and ornamental trees Bedding flowers Back to the Top Sun and Fun Drive Summer is a great time of year for kids. That's why we try to get a lot of value for the time kids' have off from school by providing them with plenty of exercise and learning activities. Have a drive for the kids' summer recreation and help put a smile on their faces. Sunscreen w/ moisturizer Bicycles and sturdy tricycles New bathing suits for boys and girls Bicycle helmets and pads Strollers, double and single In-line skates, all sizes Back to the Top Sweet Dreams Drive For many of the kids in the Shelter, bedtime has not always been a happy time. Help our staff create a cozy, safe environment for the children to enjoy sweet dreams. Pajamas for all ages (including teens!) Twin sheet and pillowcase sets Twin-sized winter comforters Plastic mattress/pillow covers Gift cards for Old Navy, Target, or Bath and Body Works Back to the Top Fresh as a Daisy Drive Many of the children who stay in the Shelter have not benefited from a good personal hygiene regimen. Their stay includes learning important skills like washing hands, brushing teeth and bathing regularly. Help keep the shelter stocked with items each child can use and take with them to stay clean and healthy. Travel Containers for soap and shampoos Toothbrushes and toothpaste Cordless shavers for girls and boys Tampons/sanitary napkins Dental floss RID Hair treatment for lice Jergins lotion for dry skin Shampoo and conditioner Mouth rinse Anti-bacteria hand soap Deodorant (stick or roll-on) Facial cleansers for teens Acne medicine for teen Back to the Top Back to School Drive This is an excellent drive to do in August/September. The children who stay at the Shelter go to school and get help with their homework from staff. The Shelter supplies them with whatever items their school requires, so that they may have the best learning experience possible. Lined Paper Calculators and compasses Dividers Folders Mechanical pencils Boxes of kleenex 3-holed notebooks Textbook Covers Colored pencils, pens, crayons Rulers and tape measures Binders (with lots of pockets!) Backpacks with padded straps Pens and Pencils Folders Red pencils Erasers Cardboard display boards Gift cards for an office supply store or Target Back to the Top Healthy and Happy Drive First Aid supplies and other health prevention items are in constant rotation as is our need to replace those items. You can combine this drive with the grocery drive if you wish, for all the drug store items. All medicines must be unopened. Infant and Children's Tylenol and Ibuprofen(Motrin) Neosporin Saline Drops and spray Sudafed for Children (liquid and tablet form) Benadryl (liquid and tablet form) Ensure Children's Multi-vitamins Band-aids, Ace bandages Pediasure Cetaphil soap and lotions Pedialyte liquid and popsicles Gatorade Robitussin liquid and cough drops Kleenex Back to the Top