Needs List

What is a drive, and how will it help The Bridge?

A drive is a campaign to collect needed items for the agency.  There are up to 75 women and children in the emergency shelter every day.  By collecting the items we use daily, you can help ensure we will have adequate supplies of the things we use and need the most.

Fact:  The Bridge needs 10,000 rolls of toilet paper per year -  833 rolls per month!

How do I organize a drive?

The ways to conduct a drive are bound only by your imagination!  Some groups collect money or gift cards to purchase supplies to donate.  Some collect money and send it to The Bridge to purchase needed items.  Others collect the items directly by asking family and friends to donate or by placing a donation container in their place of business, church or school.

Fact: The Bridge prepares more than 187,000 USDA-approved meals and snacks per year that equals 1,583 meals and snacks each month!

What type of help does The Bridge need?

Many resources are needed to shelter the women and children who depend upon The Bridge for help.  The ongoing basic necessities are canned food, meat, paper products, diapers, over-the-counter medicines, cleaning supplies and office supplies.

Fact: The Bridge uses more than 3,200 gallons of milk per year - 266 gallons per month!

In fact, The Bridge truly needs help from the community to provide the everyday necessities to our clients.  No gift of kindness is too small to make a difference.

If you have questions or need further information, please contact LaDonna Page at 713.472.0753 or by e-mail at LPage@tbotw.org.

 FOOD

A typical lunch at The Bridge consists of 30 cans of green beans, 30 cans of corn, 40 boxes of macaroni and cheese, 30 cans of fruit and 4-5 gallons of milk. 

 
Suggested non-perishable food items:

Grocery store gift cards for perishable food:     
Sams, Walmart, Kroger, HEB, etc.

 *** Monetary donations for meat. ***

Canned green beans
Canned corn
Canned carrots
Canned peas
Canned fruit (any kind)
Macaroni & cheese
Canned baked beans
Tuna
Canned chicken
Spaghetti sauce
Egg noodles
Elbow macaroni
Shell macaroni
Spaghetti
Instant mashed potatoes
Condiments
Salad dressing (any kind)
Sugar
Salt, pepper, spices
Chocolate milk syrup
Strawberry milk syrup

(Rice, beans, peanut butter & flour are provided to The Bridge free of charge from other agencies)

  

OFFICE Supplies

Many of our funders have strict requirements regarding documentation, which means The Bridge maintains an enormous amount of paperwork. The need for office supplies is substantial and on-going.

Suggested Office Supplies:

Gift cards to purchase office supplies:
Office Depot, Office Max, Walmart, Sams, Target, etc.

8 1/2 x 11 paper; white and colored
Post-it notes
File folders-letter size
Address labels - all sizes
Staples
White Out
Paper clips
Rubber bands
Tape dispenser refills

CLEANING Supplies

In order for our clients to remain healthy and comfortable, the shelter must stay as clean as possible.  Everyone pitches in, but we need adequate supplies to maintain our high standards of cleanliness.

Suggested Cleaning Supplies:

Gift cards to purchase cleaning supplies:
Sams, Walmart, Target, etc.

Bleach
Laundry soap - powder only
Fabric softener dryer sheets
Window cleaner
String mops
String mop heads
Mop buckets
Dust pans
Scrub brushes
Rubber gloves
Plastic garbage bags - 32 gallon size
Liquid soap for washing dishes
Antibacterial liquid soap - small or refill size
Liquid hand sanitizer - small or refill size
Floor cleaner that will not strip wax off vinyl floors

OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICINE

Cold, flu and allergy seasons can be a challenge at the emergency shelter.  With 75 women and children sharing a home,  illness can spread rapidly if adequate medicine is not available.

Suggested OTC Medications:

Gift cards to purchase supplies:
Sams, Walmart, Target, Walgreens, etc.

Advil or generic for adults, children and infants
Tylenol or generic for adults, children and infants
Aleve or generic
Aspirin
Cold remedy for adults, children and infants
Sinus medication for adults, children and infants
Allergy medication for adults, children and infants
Pepto-Bismol or generic
Cough suppressant for adults, children and infants
Anti-diarrhea medication for adults, children and infants
Orajel or teething pain reliever
Tums or Rolaids
Cough drops
Throat lozenges
Peroxide
Neosporin or generic
Alcohol
Cotton balls
Band-Aids - all sizes
Ace Bandages
Q-Tips
Gauze pads
Medical tape
Tweezers
Thermometers
Forehead thermometer strips for infants/children

PAPER Products

The Bridge goes through an unbelievable amount of paper products.  Think of the things you use at home and then imagine needing enough for 75 people every day! 

Suggested Paper Products:

Gift cards to purchase miscellaneous paper products:
Sams, Walmart, Target, etc.

Paper towels
Toilet paper
Napkins
Paper or Styrofoam plates
Plastic forks, knives, spoons
Paper or Styrofoam bowls
Bathroom Dixie cups

PERSONAL ITEMS

Often women and children enter shelter with nothing but the clothes they are wearing.  Although the agency meets clothing needs through donations, we also need a continuous supply of new undergarments.

Suggested Personal Items:

Gift cards to purchase undergarments:
Sams, Walmart, Target, etc.

Womens underwear - all sizes
Girls underwear - all sizes
Boys underwear - all sizes
Disposable razors for women
Disposable razors for teen-age boys
Tampons
Sanitary napkins

BABY ITEMS

Suggested Diaper Supplies:

Gift cards to purchase diapers:
Sams, Walmart, Target, Babies R Us, Toys R Us, etc,

Disposable diapers - especially sizes 4, 5 and 6
Pull-ups
Diaper wipes
Latex gloves
Baby powder
Diaper rash cream

 

Click Here for the Detailed Kitchen Needs List