In this season of giving, Town&Style has contacted local charities to ask what’s on their wish list. It’s important to remember those who could use a helping hand during our season of joy and celebration. Why not add a few of these items to your shopping list to help make the holiday season a little brighter for others?
Annie Malone Children and Family Service Center
Mission: To improve the quality of life for children, families, the elderly, and the community by providing social services, educational programs, advocacy, and entrepreneurship
Items needed: Furniture (twin beds/twin bedding, couches, nightstands, tables, lamps, etc.), toys, children’s clothing (all sizes)
Drop location: 2612 Annie Malone Drive, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
Contact: Teretha Shields, 314.633.9958, tshields@anniemalone.com
Annie’s Hope –The Bereavement Center for Kids
Mission: To provide comprehensive support for children, teens and families grieving the death of someone significant
Items needed: Individually packaged snacks, bottled water and juice, gift cards in any amount for Target, Costco, Sam’s Club, Michaels, Hobby Lobby or Shop ‘n Save
Drop location: 1333 W. Lockwood Ave., Ste. 104, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Contact: Amy Benner LaBelle, 314.965.5015
Birthright Counseling, St. Louis
Mission: To provide emotional support and practical assistance to any woman facing an unintended pregnancy (throughout her pregnancy and for as long as necessary after her baby is born). Birthright does not engage in picketing, politics or evangelizing.
Items needed: Diapers (newborn and size 1), sleepers (sizes 3 months and 6 months), infant board books
Drop location: 252 S. Brentwood Blvd., Ste. 102
Contact: Maureen Zink, 314.962.5300, mzink@birthrightstl.org
Central Institute for the Deaf
Mission: To teach children who are deaf and hard of hearing to listen, talk, read and succeed
Items needed: Toys for children ages birth to 3, books for children ages birth to 3, art supplies for children ages 4 to 12
Drop location: 825 S. Taylor Ave., 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Contact: Jenn Lanfer, 314.977.0132
Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis
Mission: To benefit the lives of people with Down syndrome and their families through individual and family support, education, public awareness and advocacy
Items needed: Preschool-size table and chairs, newborn baby items, (bibs, toys, onesies for 0-3 months), colored markers and colored paper
Drop location: 8531 Page Ave., Ste. 120, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; pick-up available
Contact: Jeff Bassin, 314.961.2504, jeff@dsagsl.org
EasterSeals Midwest
Mission: To change the way the world defines and views disability by making profound, positive differences in people’s lives every day
Items needed: New bedroom furniture: bed frames, new mattresses and box springs, nightstands, dressers, new living room furniture (new couches and loveseats); TVs and DVD players (new or used); kitchen wares – dining tables and chairs (small); pots and pans, dishes, glassware, flatware
Drop location: Please contact to arrange for drop off/pick up.
Contact: Jessa Glick, jessa.glick@esmw.org
Endangered Wolf Center
Mission: Preserve, breed and reintroduce endangered wolves to the wild
Items needed: Wildlife Education Outreach vehicle, 10×10 foot pop-up tents for outreaches and events, cleaning supplies for animal keepers (bleach, latex gloves, paper towels, ‘green’ hand soap, dish soap, laundry detergent)
Drop location: 6750 Tyson Valley Road, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday; pick-up available.
Contact: Steve Parker, 636.938.5900
Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition
Mission: To create permanency in every foster child’s life by recruiting and supporting foster and adoptive families in the St. Louis metropolitan community
Items needed: Baby items (diapers, wipes, pull ups), sheets (twin and crib), gift cards to grocery stores
Drop location: 1750 S. Brentwood Blvd., Ste. 210, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or call for weekend/evening time
Contact: Debbie Genung, 314.367. 8373
Friends of Kids with Cancer
Mission: To enrich the daily lives of children undergoing treatment for, and survivors of, cancer and blood-related diseases.
Items needed: Family outing tickets or gift cards (movie theaters, shows, sports, Magic House), kid and teen friendly gift cards, gas gift cards
Drop location: 530 Maryville Centre Drive, LL5, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
Contact: Brandy Bimslager, 314.275.7440
Great Circle
Mission: To provide a spectrum of behavioral health services for children and families through specialized programs and highly trained professionals
Items needed: Developmental toys (new toys, please!), gift cards (Walmart, Target, grocery stores, clothing stores, etc.), hygiene items (bath soap, shampoo/conditioner, towels/washcloths, toothbrushes/toothpaste, hair brushes, hair accessories, etc.)
Drop location: 330 N. Gore Ave., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
Contact: Ann Rexford, 314.919.4710, ann.rexford@greatcircle.org
Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry/A Program of Jewish Family & Children’s Service
Mission: To serve low income residents of St. Louis County
Items needed: Non-perishable canned food, adult diapers, feminine hygiene products
Drop location: 10601 Baur Blvd., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday (ring bell at garage door)
Contact: Judy Berkowitz, 314.513.1673
HavenHouse St. Louis
Mission: To provide the comfort of home and community of support to patients and their families traveling more than 25 miles to receive care. HavenHouse provides lodging, two meals a day, transportation to 19 St. Louis regional medical facilities, and around-the-clock support services to patients of all ages with any medical condition.
Items needed: New bath towels (neutral), enviro-friendly three-compartment to-go boxes, cleaning supplies (Pine-Sol, Lysol wipes, kitchen cleaner)
Drop location: 12685 Olive Blvd., seven days a week; please call ahead if you have multiple items to drop off.
Contact: Paula Kinney or Amy Schumacher, 314.434.5858
Our Lady’s Inn
Mission: Providing shelter and support services for homeless pregnant women and their children
Items needed: New car seats for all ages, umbrella strollers, women’s bathrobes (tie closure)
Drop location: 4223 S. Compton Ave.; 8790 Manchester Road, Ste. 202; 3607 Highway D, Defiance; seven days a week during daylight hours
Contact: Peggy Forrest, 314.736.1544
Nurses for Newborns
Mission: To provide a safety net for families most at-risk in order to prevent infant mortality, child abuse and neglect by providing in-home nursing visits that promote healthcare, education and positive parenting skills
Items needed: Pack ‘n Plays—new or gently used to provide a safe place for babies to sleep, newborn size diapers and diaper rash cream, baby wipes and baby wash
Drop location: 7259 Lansdowne Ave., Ste. 100, 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Contact: nursesfornewborns.org, 314.544.3433 or email Janet Leigh at janet.leigh@nursesfornewborns.org
Peter & Paul Community Services
Mission: An ecumenical agency that provides a continuum of housing and support services for individuals who are homeless, especially those with mental illness or HIV/AIDS.
Items needed: New twin-size flat and fitted sheets and blankets, new bath towels, ground coffee
Drop location: 2612 Wyoming St.
Contact: Susan Mintz, 314.588.7111
Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis
Mission: To provide a home-away-from-home for families of seriously ill children, and support to organizations that serve the needs of children
Items needed: Individually wrapped snack items, high-efficiency laundry detergent, travel-size toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, etc.)
Drop location: 300 Ronald McDonald House Lane, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Contact: Matt Lauer, 314.400.4364
St. Francis Community Services
Mission: To provide advocacy and education for the marginalized as we walk with them on their way out of poverty
Items needed: Adopt a Family program (providing a minimum of one new gift per family member and some additional household items. Email mrataj@ccstl.org for more information and to be matched with a family.), space heaters, gift cards for food and gasoline
Drop location: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 12 & 13 at St. Francis Community Services Southside Center, 4222 Delor St.
Contact: Meredith L. Rataj, mrataj@ccstl.org
Saint Louis Crisis Nursery
Mission: Works toward the prevention of child abuse and neglect and provides emergency intervention, respite care and support to families in crisis
Items needed: Diapers (bigger sizes: 4,5,6), baby wipes, formula
Drop location: 11710 Administration Drive, Ste. 18, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact: Venus Martz, 314.292.5770, venus@crisisnurserykids.org
St. Louis Earth Day
Mission: To cultivate environmental stewardship and engage individuals, governments, businesses, schools and the nonprofit sector in celebration, education and action to support a healthy and sustainable future.
Items needed: Donut-shaped weight bags, cargo van, MetroLink passes
Drop location: 4125 Humphrey St., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment
Contact: Jen Myerscough, 314.458.5367
St. Louis Classical Guitar Society
Mission: To reach out to schools in underserved areas to support their new guitar programs
Items needed: Acoustic guitars, either classical or steel-stringed
Drop location: St. Louis Classical Guitar Society, 8690 W. Kingsbury Ave., call first
Contact: Bill Ash, 314.569.3299 or 314.567.5566
Sunnyhill Inc.
Mission: Create opportunities for children and adults with developmental disabilities.
Items needed: Sports equipment (basketballs, volleyballs, cones, bases, reversible jerseys, nets, etc. for our multipurpose building currently under construction), winter coats, toilet paper
Drop location: 11140 S. Towne Square, Ste. 100, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Contact: Luke Mraz, 314.845.3900
Voices for Children
Mission: To advocate for abused and neglected children and youth in St. Louis by representing their best interests in court and in the community.
Items needed: Gift cards for youth in foster care, especially for Target, Walmart, Walgreens and gas cards.
Drop location: Please mail to: Voices for Children, 105 S. Central Ave., St. Louis, Mo 63105
Contact: Jamie Wallace, 314.615.4551
VOYCE
Mission: To educate and empower seniors and their families about quality living across the continuum of long-term care.
Items needed: Travel-sized toiletries, blankets, comforters
Drop location: 680 Craig Road, ste. 245, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Contact: Becky White, 314.918.8222
Wings of Hope
Mission: An aviation nonprofit delivering humanitarian programs around the globe to lift people in need toward health and self-sufficiency
Items needed: Gardening tools, wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, etc.
Drop location: 18370 Wings of Hope Blvd. (Spirit of St. Louis Airport), 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Contact: Angela Walleman, 636-537- 1302
The Women’s Safe House
Mission: To provide safe shelter and transitional living services for battered women and their dependent children and to empower women to make informed choices about their futures
Items needed: Commercial freezer, twin-size blankets and comforters, women’s and children’s socks (sizes infant through adult)
Drop location: Due to confidentiality, call to schedule drop off. Best days are Monday through Friday.
Contact: Anne at 314.772.4535, development@twsh.org
Youth In Need
Mission: To build on the strengths of children, youth and families so they find safety, success and hope in life.
Items needed: Play-doh, deodorant, diapers
Drop location: 1815 Boone’s Lick Road, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Contact: Cody Finan, cfinan@youthinneed.org, 636.757.9334
Look for more Charity Wish Lists in our Dec. 14 issue.