When I woke up this morning, I was impressed to look around my apartment and see what I could donate to a local shelter. I just couldn't help the fact anymore that I had so many lotions, soaps, shampoos, conditioners and other toiletries in my bathroom (for ONE person) and there were so many in my community who were in dire need of these things.
I was so excited to give away these things, but wasn't sure of the right place to give them to until I happened upon a website for a Women and Children's shelter in my area. When I called them, they expressed to me they were in dire need of toiletries and I knew that this would be the perfect place for me to donate my things. So I've just finished packing up several bags of unused packages of soaps, razors, lotions, bath gels, conditioners, shampoos and other daily items that we use without thinking twice.
I now reach out to you, my natural hair community. Many of us (including myself) have fallen prey to the "product junkie" syndrome and have so many products under our cupboards that we could probably last without buying products until mid-2011. I would like to encourage you...if you can spare giving away some items, trust that there are many people out there who would be so grateful for these necessities since they have no way of acquiring the things that we don't even think twice about picking up when we're in the store. Trust me, you can never go wrong when you reach out to help others : )
Great website for locating a shelter in your area: http://www.shelterlistings.org/
*Mae*
I know it’s been a while since you wrote that but I was wondering if you could share the names of the places you donated products to? I have a box of barely used shampoo, conditioner and all kinds of hair products that I would love to give to someone who could use them. I’m in the Bay Area and figured there has to be some place that doesn’t mind if they’re very very gently used (and in some cases new!).