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Grassroots HOLIDAY WISH LIST for 2015

HOLIDAY WISH LIST 2015 (Please deliver items by Monday, December 21, 2015)

Thank you for your interest in helping out those in need during the holiday season. Items can be dropped off any time at our main location at 6700 Freetown Road in Columbia. Please be sure to fill out a donation slip so that we may properly acknowledge your donation. For any other types of items please contact the shelter office at 410-531-6006 or e-mail to info@grassrootscrisis.org.

Grassroots year-round shelter needs list is available on our web site at http://grassroots.hocomojo.org/ways-to-give/in-kind-donations

Only NEW items for the holidays, please.

GIFT CARDS

Donations of gift cards allow Grassroots to make sure that all our residents get something special for the holidays. They work well for both men and women and are perfect for all ages, sizes, and interests. Gift cards allow parents to personally pick out something special for their own children. Please consider donating a gift card for the following:

  • Walmart (preferred) or Target
  • Food stores (Giant, Safeway, etc.)
  • Gas Cards (Sunoco, Exxon, BP, Shell)
  • AMC Theaters

 

FOR TEENS

Grassroots is currently in need of gifts for kids ages 12 and over who reside in our shelter.

  • Sweaters (with store tags) in variety of sizes (our shelter gets chilly)
  • Flannel Pajama bottoms (with store tags) in a variety of sizes
  • Sweats in neutral colors sizes S, M, L, XL (for teens to hang out in)
  • Sports Team Items (t-shirts, sweats, wallets, mugs, head bands, etc such as Ravens, Redskins, Steelers, Terps, available at Walmart, Kohls, and Target for under $20)
  • DVD’s – Insurgent, Transformers, Furious 7, Mad Max, Rio 2, Pitch Perfect 2, Hot Pursuit, Thor, The Best of Me, St. Vincent, Aloha, Game of Thrones, Ninja Turtles
  • Games – Anything EXCEPT Chutes & Ladders, Candyland, and Monopoly (we get too many)
  • Watches, wallets, and backpacks for teens – male and female
  • CD Players and CD’s for middle and high school age (One Direction, Taylor Swift, NickJonas, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Iggy Azalea, Nicki Ninaj)
  • Footballs and basketballs
  • Robes, Slippers in assorted sizes

FOR BOYS AGES 3-8 YEARS

  • Remote Control Vehicle with batteries
  • Star Wars Light Sabers with batteries
  • Action Figures – Anything Star Wars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel Characters
  • Lego Set – Lego sets are really great!
  • Sweats in neutral colors sizes S, M, L, XL (for kids to hang out in)
  • Sweaters (with store tags) in variety of sizes (our shelter gets chilly)
  • Pajama sets (with store tags) in a variety of sizes

 

FOR GIRLIE GIRLS

  • Dolls – Barbie Dolls, Baby Alive, Cabbage Patch Dolls, Bratz, Dolls, Ever After High dolls, Circo Series of Baby Dolls (Target)
  • Doll Accessories – Baby Strollers, Barbie Accessories, Doll Clothing, Baby doll play sets
  • Animals – Littlest Pet Shop, Fur Real Friends, Pets with Style, Shopkins,
  • Sweats in neutral colors sizes S, M, L, XL (for kids to hang out in)
  • Sweaters (with store tags) in variety of sizes (our shelter gets chilly)
  • Pajama sets (with store tags) in a variety of sizes FOR LITTLE ONES BIRTH TO 3
  • Developmental and educational toys for babies and toddlers such as Baby Einstein Products
  • My first Scooter

 

FOR MEN AND WOMEN

  • Sweats in neutral colors sizes S, M, L, XL, and XXL for men and women
  • Bathrobes (all sizes especially XXL)
  • Purses, handbags, and totes for women
  • Sweaters (with store tags) in variety of sizes (our shelter gets chilly)
  • Umbrellas, Wallets, Watches
  • Slippers and Slipper Socks
  • Flannel Pajama bottoms (with store tags) in a variety of sizes
  • Cologne for men and perfume for women
  • Portable CD players and music CD’s
  • Heavy winter gloves, hats, scarves, and socks
  • Underwear – boxers and boxer briefs
  • New Sheet sets (twin size)
  • Sports Team Clothing in M, L, XL, and XXL Sizes (Ravens, Redskins, Steelers, Terps)
  • Sports Team Items (wallets, hats, gloves, scarves, backpacks, etc)

Click here to download a pdf of this wishlist.

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Joe Eldred

Director of Homeless Services

Joe Eldred joined Grassroots in 2023 as director of Homeless Services where he oversees the emergency shelter programs and the Grassroots Day Resource Center. He started his career in homeless services nearly 20 years ago, having previously worked in education, after participating in a homeless count in Seattle. He has held every position in affordable housing from Onsite Property Manager to Director of Housing and Property Management.

Over his years, Joe has run all types of housing offerings including those for individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use issues, seniors, farm workers, and those with disabilities and HIV/AIDS. He has also worked with many different types of funding programs including HUD, PRAC 202, PRAC 811, USDA Rural Housing funds and funding services designed to break the cycle of homelessness like Continuum of Care and the Maryland Homelessness Solutions Program. Joe has had the opportunity to see how housing programs differ throughout the country, working in Seattle, Chicago, Harrisburg, PA and Ventura, CA, among others.

Nancy Campbell

Sr. Director of Operations & Corporate Compliance Officer

Nancy Campbell supervises the operations of Grassroots, including HR, finance, emergency shelter, homeless services, case management and facilities. She has more than 30 years of experience in managing organizations’ operations activities, mostly in the human services field. 

Community support is a passion for Nancy. She feels that mental health and homelessness often co-occur, and her goal is to develop strong strategic plans that meet the needs of Grassroots’ clients. She looks to make a difference by effectively working with our programs and staff to explore what we can offer to the community. She pays special focus on efforts that help individuals adjust while in the emergency shelter, as well as those that help them achieve stable housing. Nancy has her PMP, master’s degree in Psychology and MBA, and is currently in school to pursue a Doctorate in Leadership and Organizational Management.

Laura Willemin, LCSW-C

Sr. Director of Clinical and Crisis Services

Laura Willemin oversees all of the clinical and crisis services at Grassroots, including the crisis line, walk-in services, 988 crisis chat and text services, Mobile Crisis Team, substance use disorder program, urgent care mental health services and Outpatient Mental Health Clinic. She joined Grassroots in 2021 having previously served as manager of the Child and Adolescent Mobile Psychiatric Services for the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington. She also worked in Prince George’s Child Protective Services, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children in the community.

Laura’s career has been concentrated in intense, fast-paced, high-acuity, safety-related and high-risk areas of practice. She appreciates the opportunity to support individuals and families during the most difficult or intense circumstances they may experience through the lifespan. She has a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work and is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW-C).