The worst part of human adulthood is being your own zookeeper
Like… i have to make sure my meals are nutritionally balanced… i have to make sure that the space i occupy is big enough, and interesting enough, and provide enrichment to make up for the lack of novelty… i have to make sure i get exercise… i’m not qualified for this
I want to go to this exact point and run around it saying “I’m in Sweden!” I’m in Finland!” “I’m in Norway!” until I get tired
i aspire to great things in life
According to Google Maps, that point is in the middle of a small lake.
So we’ll do it in January when it’s frozen.
actually that’s why they’ve helpfully dropped a big-ass cement block with a bridge surrounding it in the middle of the lake: for the express purpose of doing what OP aspires to do
I’ve worked in food banks a lot, and I can verify that these are true! Here are some other tips for helping charities that give items other than food:
- Toilet paper, paper towels, and napkins are lovely, helpful items
- Diapers, baby formula, and baby clothes always help parents who need extra support after WIC benefits are applied
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste are incredibly, incredibly important
- A lot of people skip breakfast because they don’t have the extra items to put into mixes and things. You can avoid that problem by donating granola bars, oatmeal, cream of wheat, etc.
- On the above note, peanut butter lasts forever, it’s full of protein, and it has enough healthy fat to supplement a diet that is otherwise calorie-restrained. I know the given list says that their food bank got a lot of it, but the few I’ve worked with could never keep it on the shelves
- All shower products are a gift, even if they’re just travel-sized soaps and things that you’ve stolen from hotel but never plan to use (no judgement!)
- Those little bagged toys that come in fast food meals? They make fantastic stocking-stuffers for parents who have trouble affording Christmas
- I once watched a 60 year-old man cry because he got a glasses cleaning cloth and cleaning solution. They were luxury items he could never justify getting for himself, so he just scratched every pair of glasses he owned by using the hems of his shirts
- If you have used electronics, PLEASE consider donating them! That outdated iPod from 2009 that just sits in your drawer could be a kid’s most prized possession and the thing that helps them feel like they ‘belong’ (bonus points if you leave some age-friendly positive songs downloaded onto it)
- No one has ever turned down socks or underwear
- Money is the most versatile donation, because it can be used to buy off-the-wall things, food items that would spoil, clothing in a special size, etc.
- If you can’t donate money, consider donating your time! Even a few hours of volunteering can help a non-profit organization help countless people!
- If you accidentally buy shoes that don’t fit and can afford the loss, consider donating them, especially if they’re specialty shoes! I knew a man who got a good job in construction but was fired on his first day because he couldn’t afford the steel-toed boots he needed
- Cans of soda are great donations! You can use a can of any flavor soda - regular or diet - to replace all extra ingredients in a dry cake mix. We used to give out a box of cake mix, a container of frosting, and a can of soda. (These can also be a lot of fun because of the combinations! Orange soda + vanilla cake mix = creamsicle, cherry cola + devil’s food = chocolate-covered cherry, etc)
- The best advice is just to think of the things you use every day and couldn’t live without, then try to donate that. Contact solution, hand lotion, air freshener, lint rollers, and other things that make your life easier will 100% help someone else
I will reiterate this again because toilet paper and pads and tampons are ESSENTIAL. No one ever donates enough of them and you can’t just walk into a store and get free menstruation products. If you’re gonna donate food, please also consider donating those with it.
Consider calling your local food bank and asking them what they need! When i volunteered at a food bank there were certain things that everyone got and then there was an area that was first come first serve and it had things like baby supplies, hygeine items, pet food, etc. Also make sure to ask them what they can’t take! We had a bunch of bottles of kombucha in the fridge for the volunteers to take bc they weren’t able to give them away bc they technically have alcohol in them so please double check!
Thanks for this addition. I was wondering if you could call and ask what they need.
Reblogging again because I didn’t have time to write my addition this morning.
Something that I notice doesn’t get added to suggestion lists is diaper cream….when requesting baby supplies, they usually limit it to diapers, wipes and formula…but as a former preschool teacher who mostly worked with babies and toddlers, I cannot begin to tell you how important cream is. It’s one of those things you don’t miss until it’s gone. And it can get kind of pricey, so I’d recommend buying Aquafor, because you can use it in multiple ways…for diaper rash, dry hands or a chapped face (which happens a lot to babies because they drool so much).
Also good baby supplies are baby food, obvs (in both containers and pouches), puffs (which are a go-to snack, you can buy them for about $2.50 in cylindrical container), teething rings (you can never have too many), pacifiers and clothes, if they accept it. Particularly onesies. You can buy a pack of white basic onesies at Target (which should get you about 4-6)…
Another general tip, if you can’t spend a lot….check out the travel sections at stores like Target. It’s essentially a dollar section…I tend to grab things like toothbrushes and lotion, but they also have things like deodorant, dryer sheets and hand sanitizer.
