Please bring ALL TOILETRIES & GIFTS to the BROOKLYN CHRISTMAS PARTY on Friday, December 12th from 7 PM - 10 PM at Die Koelner Bierhalle, 84 St. Mark's Place at 4th Avenue.

This Advent we are collecting toiletries for neighbors in need this holiday season. Our Forefront Brooklyn will sponsor a few families from within our community who are in need of extra help with the basics, as well as collect donations for the YWCA Women's Shelter and the Center Against Domestic Violence (Women's Survival Space) in Sunset Park. Read on to learn more...

The YWCA of Brooklyn is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom,and dignity for all. One of the ways they do this is to provide low-income housing for 300 women (and about 5 men) who reside in single and shared units at the corner of 3rd Ave and Atlantic Ave in Brooklyn - yup, these women are our neighbors. The Roulette, where we meet for worship each Sunday, is actually a part of the YWCA's building. 

The Women's Survival Space is a publicly funded domestic safe house in Sunset Park that provides lifesaving short-term emergency housing (3-months) for women and children fleeing abusive homes. Often these women come to the shelter from the hospital or from emergency situations where they've had little to no time to consider grabbing the basics. The shelter is always in need of help providing them with basic toiletries and clothes to help them feel at home as they learn to build new lives and get back on their feet. 

Below is a list of suggested items these women and families would appreciate:

- Lotions

- Shower gels

- loofas/bath sponges

- bars of soap 

- shampoo & conditioner for diverse hair types

- toothpaste & toothbrushes

- deodorant (for women and teenage boys)

- shower caps

- shower flip flops (women's sizes)

- antibacterial wipes or hand sanitizer

- toiletries for kids (toothbrushes, soaps, etc.) 

- toiletries for babies and mothers (gentle products for babies and nursing mothers)

- bottles of Ensure, Boost or other Nutritional Drinks

- brand new hats, gloves & scarves

Gift cards would also be appreciated for families in need. Please purchase gift cards in values of $20 or less for one of the following stores:

- Pathmark, Walgreens, Burlington Coat Factory, and Target

Email Brooklyn Associate Pastor, Jen Fisher if you have women's clothing you'd like to donate. We are especially in need of pregnant and nursing clothes and larger sizes of women's clothing. Baby and children's clothes would also be appreciated. Men's clothing in XL or 2XL are also needed (tall & thin).