6 Ways Your Grocery or Gift Card Helps Laurel House Families

"So, how do you actually use the gift cards for the families?" asked one of our donors.

It's a good question ... and it's one that has many answers. If you're thinking about making a gift card donation to Laurel House, or perhaps already have done so (thank you!), here are 6 ways that we use them to help a needy family:

1. We use them to purchase fresh produce, milk, eggs, bread, cheese, and other items for the meals in our emergency, confidential shelter. This helps to supplement donations of canned goods that we receive from collection drives.

2. Anyone who has moved into a new home knows that the first grocery bill is often higher than usual. It's the same for a family that's moving into one of the apartments in our transitional housing program. We like to give them a grocery gift card for that first shopping trip. Even $25 or $50 helps out.

3. We use Target and Walmart gift cards for similar purposes, too.

4. We have a counseling program for people who aren't ready to move into the shelter. Recently, we had a mom whose abuser was withholding food from her and her kids. They were hiding cans of tuna fish and peanut butter in their car so they wouldn't be without something to eat. We gave them a gift card so they could get a substantial meal.

5. There's always an unexpected need. Recently, one of the women's vacuum cleaners broke. A gift card helped her with some of the money needed to purchase a new one.

6. We recently gave a gift card to someone in our transitional housing program who had a special request. Her son is on his school's wrestling team and doing very well. To him, sports represents something that is constant in an uncertain life, and something he excels in. He outgrew his wrestling shoes and the mom did not have the funds to buy him a new pair. A gift card helped her surprise him with the shoes as an early holiday gift ... and allowed him to continue participating on the team.

To make a grocery or gift card donation, give us a call at 610-277-1860 or leave us a comment below.