Mother's/Father's Day Toiletries Drive

Honoring Mothers and Fathers by Helping Others

 

Each year, our Partner Parishes conduct Mother's and Fathers' Day drives for toiletries and food items for Samaritan Ministry's Next Step program participants. Our store of items including deodorant, lotion, toothpaste and other personal care products plus food like tuna to go, granola bars and peanut butter cracker packs is in short supply. We hope you can help. This year, Mother's Day is May 10 and Father's Day is June 21.

Samaritan Ministry invites parishes to receive offerings of toiletry or food items from parishioners in honor or memory of mothers and fathers, grandparents, godparents or others that have been a special presence in their lives. Samaritan Ministry shares these offerings with program participants and others in need who are taking next steps toward greater self-reliance. Often homeless, Samaritan Ministry participants are extremely appreciative of these items.

 

What makes the effort successful? Advance notice about the drive; distribution of grocery bags with toiletries or food lists and information about the drive; prayers and acknowledgement of the gifts during services; acknowledgement of the parents in whose honor or memory the items were given; and reports to the parish on the success of the drives.

 

Again, we ask parishes holding drives to:

 

1. Notify us in advance of their intention to participate so we can tell you where to deliver the items.

 

2. Sort toiletries or food into categories as listed on our sheets prior to delivering to Samaritan Ministry, and

 

3.  Transport all the collected items to Samaritan Ministry, letting us know when you will be arriving.

 

Toiletry drives are a great way for youth to fulfill community service hours while helping Samaritan Ministry!

Please contact Dianne Lewis at (202) 722-2280 or dlewis@samaritanministry.org  with your intention to participate in this drive or if you have any questions. The following links will take you to documents that will help you publicize and execute a successful event.
If you don't hold a drive on Mother's Day or Father's Day, we hope you will consider holding one at some other time. There is a continuing need.

Letter to Parish Representatives (doc)

Wish list for Mother's and Father's Day Food Drives (doc)

Mother's Day Food Drive flier (pdf)      Mother's Day Food Drive flier (doc) 

Father's Day Food Drive flier (pdf)       Father's Day Food Drive flier (doc)

Letter for those honored by gifts (doc)

Mother's/Father's Day Newsletter Article (doc)