Anyone can do this. This Valentine project started with 17 gift bags for one shelter.
Contact your local shelter ASAP
Tell them about the Valentine Community Project & that you are interested in preparing valentine’s day gift bags for the adult residents and just figuring out of it can be done this year. Let them know nothing is finalized yet, that way if you can’t do it no one is disappointed. If they aren’t receptive I suggest asking to talk to someone else - sometimes the person answering the phone is a volunteer who doesn’t know. Sometimes they are cagey about giving information about the shelter. That’s OK - you don’t have to go there you just need to know A. The maximum number of adults that could be there on Valentine’s day B. Your point of contact C. Latest date you could get the gift bags to your point of contact to ensure they’ll get to the valentines on or before valentine’s day D. Where to drop them off (maybe an office, maybe a parking lot)
If the number of people sounds like a reasonable number reach out to your friends, open up your closets and start to put together gift bags. In the past my run of thumb was to do as many of the exact same things as possible and then to try to give “lady gifts” that were essentially equal so at any given shelter recipients felt the gifts were fair. (More about what a “lady gift” is below).
HERE’S WHAT I USED TO SEND OUT WHEN I WANTED PEOPLE TO SEND STUFF - JUST SO YOU HAVE AN IDEA - BUT TO BE VERY CLEAR I DON’T WANT ANY STUFF DONATED IN 2024
Re-gift “lady gifts”: Check your closets for lovely things you won’t miss: Jewelry; Gently used scarves, purses & sun glasses; Hotel Toiletries; Cosmetic bags & Airplane kits; Unused perfume; Nail polish, Manicure sets; Journals, Stationary & such...any small items that could make someone who had to leave most of her possessions behind feel a little bit cared for.
NO clothing please (except for accessories like hat, gloves, scarves & bags).
A bunch of the same thing: If you can MAKE, COLLECT, ARRANGE or SPARE a whole bunch of something we’d love to have it! Each year is different depending upon what you have to give: One year a friend made scores of lovely silken bags, a shop gave dozens of stunning earrings; a magazine editor sent tons of cosmetic samples; a dentist sent 30 chapsticks; teachers have students make cards; church ladies made up packets of tea bags & chocolates.