With the poor economy, charities need your help more than ever.

For everybody who is feeling generous during the upcoming holidays, here is a listing of greater Baltimore area charities or nonprofit groups seeking donations.

* Abilities Network provides educational and emotional support to families during pregnancy and through the first five years of childhood. 410-828-7700 or www.abilitiesnetwork.org.

Wish List: New books and basic toys such as blocks and baby dolls. No electronic toys.

* The Arc of Baltimore provides assistance to families with children who have developmental disabilities. Provides emergency assistance for purchase of children's and adult diapers, nutritional formulas, food and clothing. 410-296-2272 or www.arcofbaltimore.org.

Wish List: Target or Wal-Mart gift cards.

* Baltimore Science Fiction Society is a nonprofit, charitable, literary and educational organization, dedicated to the promotion of, and an appreciation for, science fiction in all of its many forms. 410- 563-2737 or www.bsfs.org.

Wish List: Donations of gently used or new science fiction, fantasy and horror books, comic books, mangas and videos. Pick up may be available.

* Believe In Tomorrow, National Children's Foundation, serves families with critically ill children. In addition to being the exclusive provider of hospital housing for the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, Believe In Tomorrow has five destination driven respite houses at the beach and the mountains for families who are battling a child's life-threatening illness to use free of charge to create joyful memories together outside of a hospital or clinical environment. 410-744-1032 or www.believeintomorrow.org

Wish List: A donation in honor, in memory, or in thanks of something or someone, on behalf of Believe In Tomorrow National Children's Foundation. Your time is a precious gift.

* Casey Cares Foundation provides uplifting programs to critically ill children and their families. 443-568-0064 or www.caseycaresfoundation.org.

Wish List: $5 or $10 restaurant certificates for Ledo Pizza, Pizza Hut, Pizzeria Uno, Cracker Barrel, McDonald's, Auntie Anne's; $5 or $10 gift certificates for Target, Wal-Mart, Borders Books, Barnes & Noble, FYE, Toys R Us, Best Buy; $5 or $10 gift certificates for Hollywood Video, Blockbuster Video, AMC, Hoyts, Regal Theaters; $5 or $10 gift certificates to Three Brothers Pizza, Taco Bell, Subway; adult and infant-sized pajamas; and tickets to sporting events and concerts and amusement parks in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

* Cockeysville-Timonium Lions Club provides assistance for purchasing hearing aids. www.ctlion.com.

Wish List: Eyeglasses, cell phones with chargers that are programmed only to call 911, and hearing aids that can be redistributed to people that need them. Boxes are available at Katzen Eye Group on York Road, or Lens Crafters, or contact a member at www.ctlion.com. Monetary donations are appreciated to assist in this community effort.

* Defenders of Animal Rights is a pet adoption center; operates a shelter for abandoned, neglected and abused animals, including farm animals; runs a wildlife sanctuary; lost and found services; spaying and neutering; humane education programs to benefit youth, senior citizens and mental health groups. 410-527-1466 or www.adopt-a-pet.org.

Wish List: Monetary donations, large trash bags, paper towels, clean sheets, towels, bleach, laundry detergent, sponges, HP #02 color and black printer cartridges, Epson #69 black and tri-color ink cartridges, colored markers, Sharp ux-c708 black ink cartridges, stamps, white copy paper, AA batteries, feline pine litter (non-clumping), dry Pedigree Small Bites dog food, canned Pedigree dog food, dry Purina Cat Chow, dry Purina Kitten Chow and Purina puppy chow, cat and kitten canned food, treats and toys for cats, dogs, hamsters, birds and rabbits.

* The Franciscan Center provides financial assistance, food, clothing, literacy training, AIDS/HIV outreach. 410-467-5340 or www.franciscancenterbaltimore.org.

Wish List: Monetary donations, non-perishable food items, blankets, bottled water, personal hygiene items, men's socks, coats, flannel shirts, hats, gloves, and new undershirts, boxers, briefs and thermal underwear.

* House of Ruth, Maryland provides emergency shelter for women and children, community advocacy, free legal help, individual and group counseling, 24-hour hot line and abuser intervention. 410-889-0840 or www.hruth.org

Wish List: Pampers sizes 4, 5, 6, school supplies, Pull-ups sizes 4T, 5T and 6T, baby wipes, women's hair brushes, gift certificates to Wal-Mart, Target, Safeway, Giant, etc., night shirts and pajamas (all sizes), bed pillows, bath towels and washcloths, socks and undergarments for women and children (all sizes), twin size sheets, blankets, comforters, khaki pants for girls and boys, sizes 6-16 (school uniforms), Navy blue, burgundy and hunter green polo style shirts for girls and boys, sizes 6-16 (school uniforms), household items including plates, glasses, flatware, pots and pans, toasters, white 8 1/2 x 11 copy paper, plastic storage containers with lids - small, medium and large sizes, sanitary products (pads and tampons), baby formula, baby food (stages 2 and 3), baby snacks, baby lotion, baby cornstarch powder, bar soap, baby bottles, pacifiers, baby lotion, aspirators, thermometers, baby Tylenol and Motrin, laundry detergent, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, paper products (plates, cups, napkins), tickets to movies, Maryland Zoo, Baltimore Aquarium, Port Discovery, Science Center, sporting events, vacuum cleaners, strollers, high chairs and car seats, non-perishable food. Used items not accepted.

* Kennedy Krieger Institute is dedicated to improving the lives of children and adolescents with pediatric developmental disabilities through patient care, special education, research and professional training. 443-923-7300 or www.kennedykrieger.org.

Wish List: Monetary donations, craft kits for children, videos for teens (rated PG-13), video games for all ages or kids and board games.

* Margaret Jenkins House provides housing, computer literacy and job readiness programs to low-income, formerly homeless women. 410-235-5782 or www.womenshousing.org.

Wish List: Monetary donations, office furniture.

* Make It Happen provides therapeutic supplies and materials to Maryland public schools (city and county) for children with autism and other special needs. 410-453-5610.

Wish List: Monetary donations to purchase Go Talk Recorders, Rifton chairs, weighted vests, theraputty, physio gym balls, scooter boards, wooden puzzles, books, baby dolls, training scissors, musical funkey keyboards, latex tubing, bean bag chairs, therapy mirrors, soft blocks, and much more.

* Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland provides two nutritious meals (one hot, one cold), delivered daily by volunteers Monday-Friday. Other programs include special diets, grocery shopping and Phone Pal for home-delivered meal clients, as well as home safety checks and referrals to related services. 443-573-0940 or www.mealsonwheelsmd.org.

Wish List: Volunteers and monetary donations.

* Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital provides in-patient and out-patient care for infants and children with rehabilitation and other complex medical needs. 410-578-8600.

Wish List: Toys, clothing, arts and crafts supplies, health and beauty products, books and magazines, sports equipment.

* Mosaic Community Services provides a nonprofit community behavioral health organization devoted to enhancing quality of life and promoting recovery. 410-453-9553, ext. 1151 or www.mosaicinc.org.

Wish List: Clothing; sweat suits (male/female, large and extra-large); outerwear for winter (gloves, hats and scarves, coats (small through XXXL); pant sizes (vary from size 1 to 22); shirts (from size small to XXXL); a DVD player for the adolescent girls program (ages 14-18 in this group); various music CDs; toiletries for male, female; hairbrushes; nail polish; shampoo; books; writing paper; arts and crafts supplies (ages 13 up); and Target and Wal-Mart gift cards.

* Muscular Dystrophy Association provides service to the adults and children in our community who live with any of 43 different neuromuscular diseases, including ALS. 410-494-7106 or www.mda.org.

Wish List: Large dry-erase boards, VCR/DVD combo player, acoustical partitions, general office supplies, hand truck, art supplies, standing fans, gift cards for Staples, Wal-Mart, Target, etc., medical equipment such as wheelchairs, commode chairs, shower chairs, lift chairs, hospital beds, ramps, stair glides, etc. Medical items should be 5 years old or newer.

* Night of Peace Family Shelter Inc. provides faith community resources serving homeless families in Baltimore County by providing emergency shelter and transition planning for homeless families for up to 4 months as they seek to reorganize their lives. 410-922-4357 or www.nightofpeace.com.

Wish List: Blankets, pampers (sizes 4 and 5), baby wipes, air mattresses (twin size), children's coats (all sizes), women's coats (all sizes), socks (children and adults), canned goods (green beans, peas, baked beans, sweet potatoes), bread items (hamburger/hot dog rolls, sliced bread, dinner rolls), cookies/crackers, juice mix/juice box, cold cereal and hot chocolate.

* PACT: Helping Children with Special Needs promotes the development of children with special needs and their families. 410-298-7000, ext. 1004 or www.pact.kennedykrieger.org.

Wish List: Toys and supplies for programs and children - art supplies, blocks, light-up musical toys, action figures, board books, puzzles, sports games, bubbles, Play Doh, dolls, diapers and clothing.

* Ronald McDonald House provides a comfortable, affordable home for children and their families who are dealing with catastrophic childhood illnesses while a child is being hospitalized. 410-528-1010 or www.rmhbaltimore.com.

Wish List: Volunteers, monetary and vehicle donations.

* TurnAround Inc. provides emergency shelter, counseling, community education, emergency room companions, legal services and a 24-hour hot line for victims of rape, domestic violence, child sexual assault and adult survivors of child sexual abuse. 410-377-8111 or www.turnaroundinc.org.

Wish List: Baby food and formula, diapers, wipes, coloring books, crayons, peanut butter, tuna with pop-top lids; and individual jellies, crackers and cereals.

* Villa Maria Continuum provides a residential treatment for children between the ages of 7-14. 410-252-4700, ext. 165 or msaarbac@cc-md.org.

Wish List: Board games (Trouble, Sorry, Uno), playing cards, puzzles, arts and crafts sets, footballs, basketballs, soccer balls and gift cards to AMF Bowling, Regal Cinema movies and Pizza Hut.

* USO of Metropolitan Washington provides programs and services for active duty troops and their families at area military hospitals. 703-696-3272 or www.usometro.org.

Wish List: Gift cards to gas stations, Wal-Mart, Target, Regal/AMC Theatres, grocery stores, restaurants, individually wrapped food such as Little Debbies products, cheese/peanut butter crackers, granola bars, small bags of chips, Hershey Miniatures, 6 oz. juice boxes, and holiday celebration needs such as glue sticks, scissors, construction paper, foam sheets in various colors, markers, crayons, glitter, icing, holiday candies, small candy canes and graham crackers, and monetary donations.

* Victor's Vittles Food Pantry at Christus Victor Lutheran Church serves those in need in the zip code areas 21234, 21236, 21286. 410-668-8089 or www.christusvictoronline.org.

Wish List: All donations of food and personal care items. Please bring to pantry on Saturdays 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and to the church Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

---

user comments (0)