Are you looking for ways to give back and make a difference this holiday season? Check out the following challenges and gifts we have for this winter season to help support our mission!
Backpack Challenge
We have a goal to receive and give out 200 stuffed backpacks to our clients this holiday season! Will you accept the challenge?
To participate, grab a backpack and stuff it with the following items for our clients:
A folder to keep important documents
A 2025 planner
A small blanket that can fit back in the bag
A toiletry kit including wet wipes, razors, fingernail clippers, and a comb or brush
A wallet
Non-perishable food items and snacks
New pairs of socks
Hand & foot warmers
A winter hat
A pair of warm winter gloves or mittens
Please bring donations of stuffed backpacks to our main shelter at 1247 4th Ave SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 by December 20th.
If you want to donate additional items in your backpack, please bring them outside of your finished backpack. We want to make sure that our clients receive similar stuffed backpacks and will make sure your additional items are given to our clients.
Gift Wrapped Clothing
Will you help us give a gift to those staying in the shelter this holiday season?
We are asking for gifts of clothing for our clients this holiday season! To participate, please purchase any of the following items and bring them to our main shelter at 1247 4th Ave SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52403 by December 20th:
Packs of T-shirts
Packs of Socks
Packs of Underwear
Sweatshirts
Sweatpants
Long-Sleeve Shirts
If you wrap your clothing gifts, please wrap each item individually and label what the gift is and the size on the outside. The most common sizes we need are men's Medium, Large, X-Large, and XX-Large. If you are unable to wrap your gift, that is okay! We will make sure that gifts are wrapped before handing them out. Please bring these clothing gifts to our main shelter by Dec. 20th!
Shelter Necessities
An ongoing holiday giving challenge is to stock up on our shelter necessities!
Donations for shelter necessities do not require any gift wrapping or specific items, they are things that we use on a regular basis to help keep our shelter spaces clean. Please feel free to bring in any of the following items to our shelter to meet this holiday giving need:
Blankets
Dish Soap
Laundry Soap/Pods
Trash Bags (13 gallon and 55 gallon)
Toilet Paper
Disinfectant
All-Purpose Cleaner
Financial Donations
Do you want to make a great impact without bringing goods donations to shelter? Consider making a holiday financial gift to Willis Dady! We have an easy, secure, online donation system here on our website at willisdady.org/donate or you can mail any cash or check donations to our main shelter at 1247 4th Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA.
Thank you for your support of individuals and families experiencing homelessness this holiday season!
If you have any questions about what type of items we use or about donating physical items, please reach out to our Community Engagement Manager, Sierra, at 319-362-7555 or sierra@willisdady.org
