Join Housing Families Inc. in supporting the Governor’s Emergency Shelter Response!

Housing Families is part of the Commonwealth’s emergency response efforts to manage the influx of families into the Massachusetts shelter system. You might have seen that Governor Maura Healey declared a State of Emergency for the Emergency Assistance Shelter system. Housing Families is more than doubling its family shelter capacity and expects to be serving as many as 290 families in shelter by providing food, clothing, childcare supplies, cleaning supplies and any other resources they can to support families as they stabilize.

This is a time that truly calls for all hands on deck! You can donate critically needed items listed below:

• New clothing and shoes for children and adults of all ages & sizes
• Cleaning supplies
• Formula
• Diapers (all sizes)
• Baby wipes
• Gift cards: Target, Walmart, Uber, Amazon, Grocery Stores
• Rice cookers and air fryers

Physical donations can be delivered to 919 Eastern Ave. in Malden, Mass., during the hours of 9 a.m.–5 p.m. from Monday–Friday.

Support local students!

Our need for donations for the backpack drive also just dramatically increased. Our goal is now at 900 backpacks (up from 400). We are extending the drive deadline. You can find all the details below. Please share & donate if you are able!

Every year Housing Families provides backpacks filled with school supplies for the children and teens in its programs. Support these young leaders and learners by donating from Housing Families’ Amazon Wishlist (https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2BCFLKV4QXJFG?ref_=wl_share&mc_cid=162459d4bd&mc_eid=5d55242d5c at housingfamilies.org/donate) – or by donating the items listed below. Physical donations can be delivered to 919 Eastern Ave. in Malden, Mass., during the hours listed above. Please drop-off all items by August 25 (earlier preferred). Requested items (new items only please):

New medium- & large-size backpacks (high-quality & durable)

1″ & 2″ binders

Subject dividers

Two pocket folders

Ballpoint pens

#2 & Mechanical pencils

Highlighters

Pencil sharpeners

Magic Markers, colored pencils, or crayons (no bigger than 24 pack)

Index cards

Loose-leaf paper

Rulers

Mini staplers

Graph paper

Erasers

Glue bottles & sticks

Housing Families also requests – if you are feeling extra motivated – to try setting out a donation box at your work, place of worship, school, apartment building, or local coffee shop (with permission, of course). You can use their flyer or make your own creative signage.

Questions? Reach out to Anthony Presti at apresti@housingfamilies.org