YEAR-ROUND VOLUNTEERING

Organize A Donation Drive (Great for Groups & Individuals!)

How to Host a Donation Drive
Baby Shower Drive
Cooking Up Success Drive
Clean Sweep Drive
Rub-A-Dub-Dub Drive
Backpack Drive
Gift Card Drive
GED Drive
Furnish-A-Future Drive
Maintenance Magic Drive
LifeWorks Wishlist


How to Host a Donation Drive
Get involved without ever leaving your desk! Consider hosting a donation drive!
You have an amazing gift to give even if you can't make a huge monetary donation or commit to a long-term volunteer project. Organizing a gift drive is a rewarding way to get your family, friends, co-workers, neighborhood, civic group or school involved in helping teenagers and families in crisis. Choose one of the following themes, and you have all you need to make a difference. Once you have chosen a drive and the dates you will organize it, email Development for collateral marketing materials for LifeWorks and help arrange for the much appreciated pick up or delivery of your gift. Thank you.

LifeWorks provides services year-round to youth and families in need. The following is a list of frequently needed items to fill “Gift Kits” for a variety of service recipients. We encourage donors to organize drives as a way to educate groups of individuals about LifeWorks. Items will be assembled into “Gift Kits” and provided to a youth when a need arises. Please donate new or very gently used items only. *Gift Certificates from Target, Wal-Mart or HEB are always needed!



Baby Shower Drive
More than 64% of teen parents never finish high school. LifeWorks' Teen Parent Services Program provides case management and parenting education support groups to help more than 200 pregnant and parenting teens stay or re-enroll in school and become positive, self-sufficient parents. The cost of caring for a baby is daunting, and the pressure forces some young people to consider dropping out of school. Throw a real or virtual baby shower, and you'll be taking a big step toward saving a family's future.

Maternity Clothes
Disposable diapers and wipes
Infant and Toddler Educational Toys
Bottles with disposable liners*
Standard bottles, nipples, pacifiers
Nursery care kits
Nursing pads
First aid kits
Bib, food containers
Onesies and socks
Receiving blanket
Diaper bag
Crib sheets
Mobiles
Bath items
Umbrella strollers
* Most needed items



Cooking Up Success Drive
Kitchen kits help young families, homeless people and youth aging out of foster care set up independent living apartments. Put together one complete kitchen kit or collect the things on this list to fill multiple kitchens. You will be cooking up a difference in someone's life.

Set of 4 dishes & bowls*
Set of 4 drinking glasses*
Small saucepan w/ lid*
Medium saucepan w/ lid*
Skillet*
Large pot w/ lid*
Set of flatware for 4*
Kitchen utensils
Large mixing spoon
Microwave*
Spatula
Pot holders
Cutting board
Paring knife
Beginner cookbook
Dish Towels
Electric grill (for sandwiches)
* Most needed items



Clean Sweep Drive
Lifeworks operates eight buildings and 25 apartments around Austin. This helps young families, homeless people and kids ageing out of foster care to set up independent living apartments. When you collect the items on this list, you are helping them set up a home and helping Lifeworks save money for other programs.

Broom
Mop
Sponges
Bucket
Cleaners
Light Bulbs



Rub-A-Dub-Dub Drive
Clean bodies are a step toward clean minds, good jobs, great grades and a social life. Help teenagers in crisis look and feel good while taking some pressure off their household budgets.

Bath towels*
Washcloths*
Hand towels*
Bath mat
Shower curtain*
Washcloths*
Hand towels*
Bath mat
Shower curtain
* Most needed items



Backpack Drive
When a teenager is forced to live on the streets, a small gift can make a world of difference, especially during the holidays. Clean socks, soap and a replacement backpack can turn a person's life around, build trust and point him or her toward a positive future.

Adult Sized Backpacks - Plain, Dark Colored (black or dark green)
Sweatshirts - Plain, Dark Colored
New socks
Travel alarm clocks
Sleeping bags
Black knit gloves
Wool Hats
Black stocking/knit caps
Travel sized hygiene products



Gift Card Drive
Homeless, abused and abandoned youth are like other teens - they like to shop for themselves. Case managers often take kids shopping as a life skills learning experience. Collect these tools to help.

H.E.B
Target
Wal-Mart
Old Navy



GED Drive
You have the opportunity to give the gift of an education. Collect these items for GED kits, and you have given someone the tools necessary for a better future.

Personal Day Planner
$90 for GED Fees
Alarm clock or watch
Notebooks
Loose leaf paper
Pen and pencils
Calculators
Resume paper and envelopes
Folders
Rulers
Glue Sticks
Markers
Clorox Wipes
Construction paper
Gift Cards in small denominations for reward and recognition (Starbucks, GameStop, Subway, etc.)

Furnish-A-Future Drive
Lifeworks operates eight buildings and 25 apartments around Austin. This helps young families, homeless people and kids ageing out of foster care to set up independent living apartments. When you collect the new and gently used items on this list, you have furnished a home and helping Lifeworks save money for other programs.

Large, plastic storage containers
Twin mattresses with box springs and frames
Chest of Drawers
Kitchen table with chairs
Table lamps



Maintenance Magic Drive
Our LifeWorks' Maintenance Department spends thousands of dollars a month on supplies to repair and renew our nine buildings and 25 apartments around Austin. These items include paint, plumbing parts, lumber, hardware, doors, windows, glass, clearers, etc. It's not something we can predict accurately therefore it's purchased as needed. Helping Lifeworks in this area saves money for direct services to clients.

Gift cards to:

Home Depot
Lowes
Ace Hardware Stores
Or any home improvement store