DISTRIBUTION OF GOODS
Sharing the goods that the Lord has provided, such as groceries, batteries, candles, toiletries, baby needs, paper goods etc., with those in need.

Food

• Coffee and tea (sugar and dry creamer)
• Powdered Milk
• Juices
• Packaged groceries that are ready to eat or just have to be heated
• Any dehydrated foods
• Rice, oatmeal
• Canned meats (tuna, chicken etc)
• Canned soups, Spaghettios etc.
• Snack food (granola bars, cheerios…)
• Peanut butter and jelly (Great food for everyone in this situation)
• Crackers (a substitute for bread – the elderly and children can live off of peanut butter
  and crackers)
• Baby food, Junior food, baby cereal

Other examples of goods

• Toiletries, Paper goods (toilet paper!), trash bags (can’t get enough for clean up –
  we rationed these out!)
• Batteries (LOTS, especially D), candles, matches
• Baby items, wipes! (there isn’t water!), everything babies need (WIC was good with
  formula, but there were NEVER enough diapers!) NEVER did enough baby goods
  come through from other sources!
• Cleaning supplies of all kinds (bleach!) and cleaning utensils (mops, brooms etc.)
• Little toys (to brighten up the little ones’ day)
• Pet food
• Basic first aid supplies, aspirin, etc.

Some things that you may not have lots of but are very nice to have on hand:
  These are things you’ll want to keep behind the scenes for specific needs. If you can collect a few of these and hand them out to people that really have a specific need, you’ll be glad you did (like the elderly, the disabled, those with lots of kids…).

• Propane camping stoves and propane, lanterns, any camping gear
• Tarps -these are usually available through the county, but there are always specific
  needs where you’ll wish you had some to hand out (the elderly or the disabled etc.)
• Flashlights (most people should have these, but there are always some….)
• Towels
• Styrofoam coolers!
• Duct tape

Future discussion:
  The options of “how to's”, the problems of this area, storage…

COLLECTIONS FOR POST-HURRICANE RELIEF

• Baby Goods
• Diapers! Diapers! Diapers!
• Wet wipes! …and more Wet wipes! (the refill packages rather than the bulky plastic containers)
• Bottled baby food in zip-lock (gal. size) bags
• Baby cereal
   
• First aid supplies
• Band-aids of all sizes, gauze, tape etc.
• Hydrogen peroxide, Alcohol, Anti-fungus, Anti-bacterial, etc.
• Diaper rash ointment !!
• Baby powder
• Aspirin, Tylenol, etc.
• Elastic wraps, slings etc.
• Sun Screen
• Insect Repellent
• Anything else you can think of
   
• Zip-lock bags (gal. size or larger) family hygiene kits (a Dollar Store is a good suggestion for this)
• One full-size toothpaste
• 4 toothbrushes
• Individually wrapped bar of soap
• Plastic bottle of shampoo (not TOO large or it won’t fit)
• Plastic bottle of conditioner (not TOO large or it won’t fit)
• Deodorant
• 1 Woman’s and 1 Man’s razor
• Shaving cream (not TOO large or it won’t fit)
• High level sun screen
   
• Zip-lock bags (gallon size) individual meals (great to keep in your car for the homeless too)
  
  (All food must be in a can - pop top cans are a good idea, but not mandatory)
   
• Can of something for main item (ravioli, chili, Beanie Weenies, etc)
• Can of fruit (small snack size is good)
• Can of snack size pudding or dessert
• Can of drink
• Napkin, plastic fork, knife, and spoon
• Individually packaged mint or stick of gum….

Other necessities

• Toilet paper
• Flashlights with extra batteries
• Candles with matches
• Packages of large trash bags
• Feminine pads or tampons with packages of wet wipes (refill packages not bulky containers)

Fun extras

• Small new stuffed animals
• Some special gift bags for special women (Dollar Store)
• Suggestions: body spray, scented candle, lotion, hard candy (unfortunately chocolate melts), with card saying something like, “You’re special, God sees you, God knows you, God cares. He’s listening. Call on Him.”
• All camping equipment is really needed. If you find such things at garage sales or in closets, GET IT!