By Zach Logue
Student Blogger

Note: This post was written by a freshman student at the University of Kentucky with help from GreenHouse17 staff as part of a service learning project.

Donation drives are a great way for individuals and groups to get involved in the community and help survivors of intimate partner abuse. Donations are especially important around the winter holidays. Everyone deserves to receive a gift they want or need,  and you can help make this happen for survivors.

GreenHouse17 will be the 0nly source of holiday help for about 100 adults and their children who are receiving their services or living at the emergency shelter. At any given time, about half of residents living at the agency’s shelter are children. You and your church, work, or community group can collect and donate all kinds of things to make the holidays special. Some gift ideas include robes, pajamas, slippers, board games, non-violent toys, purses, blankets, perfume, and many more.

You don’t even have to wrap the gifts because the organization’s staff  sets up “stores” in the safety of the shelter for parents to “shop” for gifts for their children and kids to “shop” for gifts for their parents. Are you someone who’s never sure what to buy for someone? You could consider purchasing gift cards to grocery or department stores in the region to help survivors during the holidays.

A complete list of gift ideas for survivors of all ages is available at this link.

Although GreenHouse17 isn’t able to accept donations of used goods at the shelter, you can donate your gently used items at area Goodwill or Habitat for Humanity on behalf of survivors. Just tell them the donation is for GreenHouse17. They will process the used items and provide vouchers for families in the shelter to shop for goods they need.

Your time and generosity will put a smile on a child’s face and help survivors to feel supported this holiday season!

This post is part of this year’s 17 Days/17 Ways Campaign to end intimate partner abuse.