Collection Drives
You Can Make a Difference!
Every day, hundreds of hungry and hurting men, women, and children count on The Union Mission Ministries for help. It can be a challenge to provide all the things our guests need—and costs have risen on nearly everything we provide to them for free.
If you or your family, Sunday school class, Scouting troop, or corporate outreach group wants to make a difference that changes lives, consider a collection drive to provide some of our always-most-needed items from our Give Goods page. As you are making your plans, please contact our Volunteer Engagement Coordinator.
Meal Sponsorship
It’s easy to sponsor a meal for our shelter guests! You can make a financial donation to cover the costs, personally cook and deliver your culinary creation, or cater a breakfast, lunch, or dinner. About 160 portions will cover both shelters, or choose a more manageable size. To be added to the schedule, just contact our Volunteer Coordinator.
Another great option is a collection drive for $10 fast-food gift cards. Many of our residents work off-site and odd hours. A gift card for a local chain restaurant, gas station, or convenience store gives them an affordable meal break that’s a real blessing!
Note: The Union Mission no longer encourages collection drives for canned goods and kitchen staples other than those listed on our Give Goods page.
It’s expensive to set up a new home when you’ve been homeless. Provide a great housewarming gift to our shelter guests moving into permanent housing: a plastic tote loaded with useful household items. To fill a Home Tote costs about $100–$120, making this a great group project!
Transportation is essential for our shelter guests to get to their jobs, interviews, appointments, and children’s daycare providers. Every day we provide them with bus passes. You can purchase them for us at selected area Food Lions and 7-Elevens or directly through Hampton Roads Transit.
Bed Linens & Bath Towels
Host a drive to donate washcloths and bath towels, or extra-long (XL) twin sheets and pillowcases. All our linens and towels are bleached regularly, so white is often the best color choice. And many retailers will ship them directly to us!
Many of our guests arrive with their clothing in a garbage bag or crammed into a backpack. Providing them with a wheeled suitcase or dufflebag helps protect their belongings and restore their dignity. Luggage also facilitates an easier move into permanent housing.
It’s one of our greatest year-round needs: new underwear for the men, women, and children staying with us. We also appreciate your donations of gently used, more visible clothing for our shelter guests and Thrift Store sales.
Hope Haven always needs items like paper products, first aid items, cleaning products, art supplies, and more. By providing for those needs, you can help make Camp Hope Haven, our Children’s Home, Recharge Respite Care, Switchback, and our other family-friendly outreaches a success!