Holland America, a Seattle-based cruise line started a new program last year. It's call Ship to Shelter. The program involves taking those unused portions of shampoos and lotions, sorting them into bins, and bringing them through customs to be donated to charitable organizations such as the Cooperative Feeding Program. They in turn give out the free supplies to homeless people. Although it's a lot more work for the cruise line to gather, sort, and get the items through customs, the extra work enables people who otherwise might not be able to afford these toiletry items to have free access to them.
According to Marti Forman, the CEO of the Cooperative Feeding Program in Florida, the program came not a moment too soon. With charitable donations down right now, many organizations don't have the extra funds to make toiletry items available. Feeding people has to be their first priority. Thanks to Holland America, they don't have to make a choice between giving out food and giving out self-care items to the homeless. Holland America has also expanded this donation movement to passing on televisions, uniforms, office supplies, plates, eating utensils, and pots and pans.
To learn more, click on the link below, and while you're thinking about it, consider making a donation of time, money, or unwanted goods to your local charity to give them a helping hand during a time when they can surely use it. I have several bags of donation items that are waiting in my garage for me to drop them off somewhere. This is the week I'll get off my duff and make good on that intention. What about you? What will you do this week?
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/03/01/ship.to.shelter/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
Editor of AGNADL
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