Casa Maria Soup Kitchen is in need of clothing and food donations to help the unhoused and low-income people they serve on a daily basis.

Casa Maria exists entirely on private donations, whether that be money, food, clothing, hygiene products or time. 

“If people don’t help us, it means a worse life for people who are on the street right now,” said Brian Flagg, who has been living and working at Casa Maria for 41 years. 

As the winter season approaches, Flagg said they need jackets, pants, hats, gloves and especially blankets. They take all sizes of clothing; men, women and childrens, and only ask that the items be clean. 

“Anything you have can be useful. We’ll get it in the right hands; that’s our thing,” he said. 

Casa Maria also accepts canned food donations. Flagg said they are low on coffee and sugar, and would appreciate a donation so they can keep serving it to their guests every morning. 

“It feels like everyone comes here”, Flagg said, and with the help of donations, Casa Maria can keep helping those in need. 

Sister José Women’s Center is in need of winter clothing donations as well. As the weather turns, “we’re giving out more blankets, we’re giving out jackets, tarps, tents,” said Jamie Albrecht, the volunteer engagement coordinator. 

Earlier this year, the center made the decision to flip some of its donation areas into more space for the dormitory where overnight guests stay in order to serve more people. Because of that, they have had to rethink how to receive and process donations, so now they are asking for specific items they need. When they get more than they can store, they pay it forward and donate to other nonprofit organizations in the area. 

Albrecht said their guests have been requesting pants. Donations of jeans, leggings and specifically sweatpants are very important right now. Other clothing donations needed include jackets, new, over the ankle socks and new underwear. 

Sister José takes any size of women’s clothing, and will sometimes keep larger sizes of children’s clothing for their smaller guests and occasionally mens clothing for the guests that choose to dress more masculine, typically for safety reasons while living unhoused.  

Rachel Milles, the volunteer outreach coordinator, asks that before people donate their old, used clothing, to stop and think if they would want to be seen in them. 

“A lot of what we do is trying to honor the dignity of the guests that come through our door, and so that’s something we think about when giving out clothing, like, ‘Does this have a stain on it?’ ‘Does this have too much wear?’ ” Milles said. “If it doesn’t look good, we don’t want to give it to them because that’s not what we would want to wear. That’s not what is going to help them blend in and feel safe in the community. That’s not what’s going to make them feel good when they step out our door. We want people to feel like we’re honoring the dignity they deserve.”

Hygiene items are also a high priority at Casa Maria. Full size shampoo, conditioner and body wash and travel size body wash, toothpaste and deodorant are needed right now. 

On the website at sisterjose.org is the center’s Amazon wishlist. From there, people can purchase items that will be sent to the center. The items at the top of the page are the ones that are the greatest need. 

For food, Sister José will take canned food, dry goods and bread. Blankets and tents are also needed during the colder winter months. 

“Our guests are our neighbors, the community of people that are experiencing housing insecurity. They are members of our community, and they deserve our compassion,” Albrecht said.

The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Arizona’s biggest need is for items on their Amazon wishlist to be purchased. 

“Being a non-profit we ultimately rely on donations,” said Mikay Wright, a Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Arizona volunteer coordinator.

At the top of their list is a Christmas tree, high chairs, coffee filters and fans. But any item purchased from the list, such as the food and household goods, help.

Each year, the Ronald McDonald House puts together a holiday box for every family staying at the house between Dec. 10 and Jan. 1. In the holiday box are presents and necessities for the child in the hospital, parents and siblings. Items needed for the holiday box can be found on the Amazon wishlist. 

For in-person donations, such as clothes and toys, the organization asks that they be new. “Because of the unique nature of the people we serve, we will have a lot of vulnerable [sick] kiddos here, so our families are wanting to take extra precaution,” Wright said. 

“Because of that, the toys and clothing we get, we do ask that it be new,” she said.  

Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.