Fort Worth homeless shelters need these items for the holidays. What & how to donate

The holidays are always a good reason to give back to your local community.

The City of Fort Worth partners with Continuum of Care staffed by Partnership Home, also known as the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition, to provide resources to those who are at risk or experiencing homelessness.

There are 40 agencies across Tarrant County that provide services to 4,368 unhoused individuals , according to Partnership Home.

The 11 shelters operate for different needs, such as single women, domestic violence victims, and runaway youth, to name a few. During the winter, overflow shelters open in Arlington and Fort Worth to give folks a warm place to stay.

So, what better time than now to donate to people in Fort Worth experiencing homelessness?

Donations can be however big or small. There are opportunities to put together a basket or donate individual items. If you can’t make it out of the house to collect donations, you can donate online with a dollar amount.

What to donate to Fort Worth’s unhoused

Most needed items are:

• New underwear

• Incontinence products

• New socks

• Coats (winter only, will accept clean and gently used)

• Shoes (will accept clean and gently used)

• Clothing (will accept clean and gently used)

• Gift cards

• Toiletries (not opened or expired)

• Culturally specific beauty products

• Personal care items

• Laundry supplies

• Cleaning products

• First aid supplies

• Bags

• Linens

• No alcohol

For those who are moving into an apartment, the City of Fort Worth partners with the When We Love organization that collects welcome baskets with all the move-in necessities for families.

When We Love suggests using a new laundry basket to fill with all the essentials. Items should include the following:

• Bowls

• Glasses

• Mugs/cups

• Plates

• Silverware

• Silverware divider

• Cooking utensils

• Cooking knives

• Can opener

• Measuring cups

• Cutting board

• Pots and pans

• Colander

• Sheet pan

• Skillet

• Broom

• Mop

• Toilet

• Brush

• Dishcloths

• Bath/kitchen cleaner

• Laundry basket

• Laundry detergent

• Quarters for laundry

• Dish washing liquid

• Sponge

• Small trashcan

• Trash bags

• Paper towels

• Toilet paper

• Shower curtain

• Shower liner

• Shower hooks

• Bathmat

• Towel sets

• Washcloths

• Hand/body soap

• Twin & full sheets

• Blanket

• Pillow

• Pillowcases

To drop off donations, you must make arrangements with Gary Wilkerson, who can be contacted at 682-707-5302 x108. The When We Love office is located at 1100 E. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth.

How to donate to Tarrant County homeless shelters

You can donate to Tarrant County homeless shelters by visiting the following links below. You can make a one-time donation or schedule for monthly, quarterly, or annually.

• Donate to the Partnership of Home.

• Donate to Building a Place to Call Home.

This story was originally published December 5, 2024 at 3:06 PM.

Ella Gonzales

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Ella Gonzales is a service journalism reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Ella mainly writes about local restaurants and where to find good deals around town.