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Domestic Violence Hotline: 713-528-2121
Sexual Assault Hotline: 713-528-7273
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   Urgent and Ongoing Needs

Many clients have to quickly leave a dangerous situation and come to us with only a few belongings they were able to stuff in a bag.  You can help our clients regain a sense of normalcy by donating to our Urgent and Ongoing Needs supply room. Below are links to lists that show what we either need right now for a somewhat special need or that we always seem to be short of on a regular basis. Your gifts will help the women and their children while they are at the shelter, as well as when they gain more independence and transition into their own homes. The items will also be shared with clients who are in our counseling program. To view the lists of items, please click on the categories listed below:

Questions?

If you have questions about our ability to accept a donation, please call Dana Ezer, Development Coordinator at 713.528.6798 ext. 2229 or send an email to dezer@hawc.org. 
Thank you for your consideration and support.   
 
   

      We Cannot Accept Used Items

We are no longer accepting used clothing or used toys due to the closing of our resale store. We also ask that cosmetics, toiletries, and other personal products be new and in unopened packages or with tags attached.  We cannot accept used items of this kind for health and safety reasons.    

 
  

Delivering Donations & Parking Information

 You may deliver your donations to the address listed below. If you need driving directions, please click (Directions).You may park in the lots on either side of the front door and speak to the receptionist.  If your donation is large, the receptionist can arrange for staff to help unload your car.  You will receive a receipt for your donation that can be used for tax purposes.

Louise Strauss Ablon Counseling & Education Building

1010 Waugh Drive at West Dallas.

Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.;

Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  

Organize a Drive

If you or your group is interested in organizing a drive to collect urgent and ongoing needs, please call Dana Ezer, Development Coordinator 713-528-6798 ext. 2229 or send an email to dezer@hawc.org.

Urgent Needs

Hospital Accompaniment Program

The Houston Area Women’s Center offers a Hospital Accompaniment Program for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.  Parts of the services we offer include a change of clothes. Clothing is so important to survivors as the majority of the time their clothing is kept for evidence. The hospitals can only provide hospital robes and this piece of clothing can be uncomfortable to wear for anyone and even more for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Help us continue to bring as much comfort as possible during this time in our clients’ lives. Please support our Hospital Accompaniment Program by donating the following items:   

  • New T-Shirts (all sizes - urgent)
  • New Jogging Pants (all sizes - urgent)
  • New Sports bras (all sizes - urgent)
  • New Socks (urgent)

If you have any questions in reference to the Hospital Accompaniment Program, please contact Celinda Guerra, Manager of Hotline Services at 713-528-6798 ext. 2282 or by email at cguerra@hawc.org. 

Career Development Program

The Houston Area Women’s Center offers a Career Development Program for our clients that are staying at our shelter. The Career Counselor works with each client to build a professional development and education plan based on their interests and goals. Services provided include skills assessment, resume building, financial assistance for education and training, life skills training and the basics of interviewing. We also supply suitable clothing for interviews and the workplace. You can help us as we provide our clients with the items they need to find a career.  Please support our Career Development Program donating the following items: 

  • Plastic ponchos and umbrellas (urgent) -  Clients need to make a good impression during a job interview or at work and these items are essential to doing so when our Houston weather turns rainy.
  • Women’s bras and panties (larger sizes – urgent) - Our clients tend to meet the needs of their children and others first while overlooking their own needs. Undergarments often fall far down the list of priorities and new items can give a boost to self confidence.  

If you have any questions in reference to the Career Development Program, please contact D’Jomme Adia, Manager of Client Services by email at dadia@hawc.org.
  

Ongoing Needs

Clothing and Personal Items

Most of our clients arrive at our shelter with just a few belongings that they were able to stuff in a bag. Part of the services that we offer to them include clothes and personal items. Help us bring as much comfort as possible during their stay at our shelter. Please help us provide our clients with new clothing and personal items by donating the following items:

       Clothing for Women & Children:

  • T-shirts, shorts, pants
  • Sweat suits and warm-up gear
  • Socks, casual shoes
  • New undergarments (bras and underwear especially in larger sizes)
  • Business attire, school uniforms, pajamas 
  • Accessories & jewelry
  • Tote bags for clothing and other personal items  

      Personal Items for Women:

  • Cotton Balls, Cotton Swabs, Tissues
  • Perfumes and Lotions
  • Blow Dryers, Curlers, and Curling Irons
  • Combs, Brushes, and Accessories
  • Hair Products (ethnically diverse)
  • Pillows, Travel alarm clock, Umbrellas
  • Shampoo & Conditioner (full size)
  • Bars of Soap, Deodorant, Razors and Shaving Gel     
  • Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Floss, Mouthwash
  • Sanitary Napkins & Tampons

       Personal Items for Children:

  • Diapers, especially sizes 3-6
  • Pull-up diapers for boys & girls
  • Diaper bags & changing pads
  • Baby items(wipes, wash, diaper ointment, powder)
  • Bottles, pacifiers, feeding spoons & bowls
  • Sunscreen & bug spray
  • Baby blankets & crib sets
  • Car seats/Booster seats, single & double strollers

Shelter Library

The Houston Area Women’s Center provides a library for clients that stay at our shelter. Please help us maintain our library with educational materials by donating the following items:

      Educational Items:

  • Books in all languages (leisure reading)
  • New magazine subscriptions (ethnically diverse)

Children’s Enrichment Program

The Houston Area Women’s Center offers a Children’s Enrichment Program for children and youth that are staying at our shelter. The program provides after school, field trips and events for children of all ages. Please support our Children’s Enrichment Program by donating the following items: 

     Entertainment Items:

  • Tickets for sports events
  • Sports equipment (basketballs, rubber balls)

Food Pantry

The Houston Area Women’s Center maintains a food pantry for emergency needs of non-residential clients, sexual assault and domestic violence survivors that are visited by our advocates in the hospital, provide snacks to children in court working with Children’s Court Services and for children in our Child Care when their parents are attending a counseling group. Please help us supply our food pantry so that we can continue providing food to our clients. The following is a list of items most needed for our food pantry:    

     Food for the Food Pantry:

  • Similac Advance Infant Formula
  • Gerber baby food
  • Canned fruits in light syrup
  • Canned soups (Campbell’s soup)
  • Canned vegetables (peas, corn, green beans, mixed vegetables)
  • Canned tuna or chicken, packed in water
  • Microwave food (macaroni, noodle cups)
  • Cereals, cereal bars, pop tarts and oatmeal
  • Pastas, spaghetti, macaroni, noodles, spaghetti sauce
  • Drinks (100% juice cans or boxes and bottled water)
  • Snack crackers - snacks for children who obtain counseling services and for children who come with family members to group sessions.

If you have any questions in reference to the Food Pantry, please contact Jacklyn Guerra, NRS Program Assistant at 713-528-6798 ext. 2477 or by email at jguerra@hawc.org.

Children's Court Services

The Children’s Court Services provides assistance to children and their families who are involved in the criminal justice system.  They educate, advocate, support and accompany children and their families to testify in court. Please support the Children’s Court Services by donating court activity bags to occupy children that are waiting to testify in court.  

     Items for Children’s Court Activity Bags:

  • Travel or handheld games for teens (Tetris, Connect 4, etc.)
  • Journals, notepads, diaries
  • UNO Cards
  • Gel pens
  • Silly Putty
  • Disney/Pixar coloring and activity books
  • Popular culture Word Find books
  • Rubik’s cubes
  • AA & AAA batteries

If you have any questions in reference to Children’s Court Services, please contact Pam Hobbs, Manager of Children’s Court Services at 713-528-6798 ext. 2255 or by email at phobbs@hawc.org.

Supportive Housing Program

The Houston Area Women’s Center’s Supportive Housing Program provides rental assistance to victims of domestic and sexual violence. The Supportive Housing Program is provided to help homeless individuals meet three overall goals: achieve residential stability, increase their skill levels and/or incomes, and obtain greater self-determination.

While transitioning from the shelter at The Houston Area Women’s Center to their new home, many basic items are needed in order to gain their self-determination and residential stability. Please support our Supportive Housing Program by donating the following items: 

      Kitchen & Bath Items for our Housing Clients:

  • Cups, drinking glasses, plates
  • Cooking utensils, pans, dishes
  • Silverware, pitchers, starter pots
  • Paper towels, kitchen towels
  • Table cloth, table mats
  • Cleaning products   
  • Shower Curtain
  • Towels, wash cloth
  • Toilet paper

If you have any questions in reference to the Supportive Housing Program, please contact Wanda Wilson, Manager of Housing Services at 713-528-6798 ext. 2250 or by email at wwilson@hawc.org.

Career Development Program

The Houston Area Women’s Center offers a Career Development Program for our clients that are staying at our shelter. The Career Counselor provides assistance with skills assessment, career planning, financial assistance for education and training, life skills training. Part of the services we offer include proper attire for interviews and employment uniforms. Please support our Career Development Program donating the following items: 

     Career Items:

  • Planners, calendars, legal pads
  • Pens, pencils and calculators
  • Watches and alarm clocks

If you have any questions in reference to the Career Development Program, please contact D’Jomme Adia, Manager of Client Services by email at dadia@hawc.org.

Gift Cards

Gift Cards are an easy and convenient way to support the Houston Area Women’s Center. Gift cards make it possible for us to purchase urgent and ongoing needs for our clients. Please consider donating gift cards so that we can continue providing this items to our clients. We accept gift cards for any amounts. The following is a list of gift cards that we can use to purchase the items for our clients:  

     Types of Gift Cards:

  • Wal-mart gift cards
  • Target gift cards
  • Visa gift cards

If you have any questions in reference to donating gift cards, please call Dana Ezer, Development Coordinator at 713-528-6798 ext. 2229 or send an email to dezer@hawc.org. 

 

 

 
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