Hundreds of people come to FIRST UNITED each day seeking comfort, care and a place to belong. When you give goods to our Community Help Desk Program, you increase free access to basic personal hygiene and emergency care items and provide vital support to our neighbours in need. During the winter months, cold weather items can literally save lives. We distribute clothing and essential items through our Community Help Desk and shelter, provide items to other service providers and warming centres, and directly distribute items to folks in the Downtown Eastside.
Important information before you donate items:
While we are grateful for people’s excitement to help, note that we can only accept the items listed below. Donating items not on this list creates additional work for our staff, taking our time away from where it is needed the most. This list is updated regularly to reflect current needs.
Please ensure that your items are clean and in good condition before donating. We do not have the resources to launder, clean, or mend items before distributing them. We strive to always treat members of the community with dignity, which includes providing them with clean clothing that is in good repair. Items that are unclean or in poor condition are disposed of, creating additional work for our staff.
Spring/Summer 2024 Update
We’re in need of the following items in new and original packaging, or gently-used (for clothing items):
- Rain ponchos and rain coats
- Umbrellas
- Blankets
- Sleeping bags
- Sweatshirts
- Sweatpants**
- Men’s and women’s underwear (must be new)**
- Socks (must be new)
- Tampons & pads
- Razors and shaving cream**
- Shampoo & conditioner
- Toothbrushes
- Combs/hairbrushes
- Lotion**
- Bar soap**
- Towels
- Twin fitted sheets (no flat sheets or other bedding)
- Snacks: granola bars, cookies, wagon wheels (not expired, in packaging)
- McDonald’s and Tim Horton’s gift cards in $5 or $10 amounts
Items marked with ** are in high demand.
Our Spiritual Care team is also in need of:
- Craft supplies, including:
- Watercolor paper
- Canvas boards
- Beads (seed beads to pony beads)
- Cardstock
- Buttons
- Books
- Family board games
- Crayons
- Pencil Crayons
- Markers
Dropping Off your Gifts In-Kind
You can drop off items at our Help Desk at 501 E. Hastings Street on Monday-Friday, from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm, and 1:00 – 4:00 pm (closed during lunch from 12:00-1:00). No appointment is required. If you have questions about your donations please contact us at [email protected].
Tax Receipts for Gifts In-Kind
In order to receive a charitable tax receipt for your donated gifts of goods please fill out our Gifts In-Kind Donation Form and submit your original receipt for the value of the items. Your Gifts In-Kind Donation Form and receipt can be provided when you drop off your items, or you can scan and email to [email protected]. Unfortunately, we cannot issue charitable tax receipts for items without a receipt.
If you have any questions about donating gifts in-kind please contact our Development team at 604.336.3047 or [email protected].
Other organizations accepting gifts of goods
While we can only accept the above listed items, there are a number of other important organizations accepting in-kind gifts that we encourage you to direct other items to: