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Holiday Wish List 2013 — There’s Still Time to Create a Happier Holidays

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.
  • In addition to Grassroots residents, the Center also helps about 150 former clients and their families have a Merry Christmas.

Only NEW items for the holidays, please. (Please deliver items by Mon., Dec.16)

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:

  • Target/Walmart
  • Food stores (Giant, Safeway, etc.)
  • Restaurants (McDonalds, Wendy’s, Burger King, Chick-fil-A)

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)
  • Inexpensive hand-held video games for teens such as: Simon, Tetris, and Solitaire (with AA batteries) all available at Walmart & Target for under $20.
  • DVD’s – Jack the Giant Slayer, “42” – Jackie Robinson, Ironman 3, World War Z
  • Games – Cranium, Game of Thornes, Big Bang Theory, Would you Rather.., Flash & Furious
  • Watches and wallets for teens – male and female
  • CD Players and CD’s for middle and high school age (One Direction, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Selena Gomez, Zendaya)
  • Footballs and basketballs

FOR BOYS AGES 3-8 YEARS

  • Toys1Switch and Go Dinos
  • Star Wars Light Sabers
  • Action Figures – Star Wars, Marvel Characters, Iron Man, Steel Max Transformers
  • Monster Trucks, Radio Control Cars with batteries
  • Games and Building – Legos, Angry Birds Jenga
  • 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

  • Toys2Zinkies, Fur Real Friends
  • Littlest Pet Shop, Barbie Legos
  • Dolls – Barbie, Kawaii Crush Dolls and Accessories, Monster High Dolls and Accessories,
  • Ghouls Rule Dolls
  • 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 MEN AND WOMEN

  • Sports Team Clothin in M, L, XL, and XXL Sizes (Ra ens, Redskins, Steelers, Terps,)
  • Sports Team Items (wallets, hats, gloves, scarves, backpacks, etc)
  • Umbrellas
  • Wallets
  • Watches
  • Slipper Socks
  • Sweats in neutral colors sizes S, M, L, XL, and XXL for men and women
  •  Flannel
  • Pajama bottoms (with store tags) in a variety of sizes
  • Bathrobes (all sizes especially XXL)
  • Sweaters (with store tags) in variety of sizes (our shelter gets chilly)
  • Personal Hygiene items –Full Size Holiday Sets, Cologne
  • Portable CD players and music CD’s
  • Heavy winter gloves, hats, and scarves

 

Click here to download a pdf of this wishlist to take shopping.

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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).