wish list

arden house
emergency domestic violence shelter
general wish list

Women and families that flee domestic violence often leave behind all of their belongings. In the best case scenario, families are able to pack up a carload of boxes, in a hurry. Families leave behind those things that we take for granted every day-toothpaste, alarm clocks, clean underwear and long-distance phone calling.

Gift Certificates
Gift certificates to grocery stores help offset the expense of food at the Shelter. Also, the certificates may be used by clients to purchase prescription medications that they cannot afford.

Gift certificates in small denominations assist clients with small purchases of daily life items and/or treat families to a "special outing" during the Shelter stay. Examples include: Babies R Us, K-Mart, Ames, McDonalds, Crown Theatre, or a local hair salon.

Pre-paid telephone cards allow residents to make emergency telephone calls to their support system (family members, friends, etc.).

Gift certificates to local gasoline stations help offset the increasing travel expenses for the clients.

Baby Products
Baby monitors
Diapers, all sizes
Baby wipes
Baby medicines and creams for rashes
Baby thermometers
New clothing
New portable cribs/bassinettes/car seats/strollers

Household Supplies
Air Freshener
Cleaning Supplies
Dishwashing Liquid
Garbage bags (large 30+ gallon and small trashcan size plastic liners)
Liquid hand soap
Kleenex, toilet paper, paper towels

Clothing
New plain color T-shirts (various sizes to be worn by women, girls and boys)
New children and women's underwear in all sizes
New socks of all sizes
Nightgowns for women
New nylons/knee highs

Crafts and Games
Crossword puzzles and other activity books
Games
Coloring books
Colored paper
Crayons, markers, colored pencils
Paints
Glue
Adult and children's scissors

Linens
Twin-size bedding (top sheet, fitted sheet, pillowcase, blankets, mattress covers and pillow covers)
Towels (bath, face, hand)

Miscellaneous Daily Life Items
Alarm clocks (wind-up preferable)
Batteries: AA, 9-volt, D
Stamps
Light bulbs: 60 watt
Flashlights
First Aid kits
Nightlights
Umbrellas

Personal Items/Toiletries
Cotton balls
Curling irons
Dental floss
Deodorant
Emery board & nail clippers
Feminine hygiene products, pads and tampons
Hair dryers
Hair care products (for all ethnicities)
Shampoo and conditioner
New and unopened over the counter medications: baby and adult aspirin, sinus/allergy, etc.
Nail polish remover
Q-tips
Razors
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste

Other Shelter Needs
Book bags with folders, assignment books, and pencils
New bookshelves
Computers and printers (call our IT Specialist at 410.626.7800 ext. 215 to discuss needs)
Digital camera
New pots and pans
Yoga mats

GIFT CERTIFICATE BASKETS

Arden House provides safe housing and support services for women and families that have fled domestic violence. Commonly, after her Shelter stay, a woman faces the challenge of establishing a new home environment under financial duress.

As part of the support the YWCA offers to women and children who have resided in the Shelter, Arden House provides "Gift Certificate Baskets" for women as they depart. The gift certificates provide flexibility for a woman to purchase items that she needs for her children and home and may be used as a type of emergency fund when cash is low.

Gift certificate ideas:

Food markets
All-purpose stores
Baby/toddler specialty stores
Department stores
Home maintenance stores
Gasoline cards
Postal stamps
Pre-paid phone cards
Restaurants
Entertainment companies

west county family support center

For the Food Pantry
Non-perishable food items for the food pantry
Baby food

For the Child Development Room
Rocking chair
Fish Tank
New toddler's couch and throw pillows
Diapers
Baby wipes
Hand-sanitizer
Lysol spray
Art paper
Poster board
Kids music
Boom box

For the Center
Digital Camera
Laptop Computer (call our IT Specialist at 410.626.7800 ext. 215 to discuss needs)
Fax Machine (call our IT Specialist at 410.626.7800 ext. 215 to discuss needs)