Looking to give back this holiday season? Here are 21 places to donate in Louisville
With everything going on this time of year, it's the perfect time to take a breather and think about what matters most and how you can help others. Due to things like inflation, many people need a little extra help this holiday season. Here are some ways to give back and lend a helping hand to those in need across the Louisville area.
Know of a place we missed? Send a note to Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com.
Boys & Girls Haven
2301 Goldsmith Lane; boysandgirlshaven.org
Boys & Girls Haven, which provides a safe haven to young people who have experienced trauma, needs monetary donations and donations from its Amazon Wish List for the holiday season. Purchase items needed from Amazon and have them shipped directly to their location. A complete list of needs can be found on its website.
Catholic Charities of Louisville
2911 S. Fourth St.; cclou.org
Catholic Charities of Louisville serves those in need, especially the poor and oppressed, with a wide range of outreaches that assist neighbors of all races, backgrounds, and beliefs. It is the social service ministry of the Archdiocese of Louisville. This holiday season, it needs monetary donations and donations from its Amazon Wish List. You can purchase items and have them shipped directly to the office. Donations should be under $50 and unwrapped so families can shop for themselves. It also needs gift cards in $25 increments to Walmart, Kroger and VISA.
Center for Lay Ministries
213 E. Maple St. in Jeffersonville, Indiana; 812-282-0063; centerforlayministries.org.
Center for Lay Ministries is an umbrella organization for two important missions, the Food Pantry which provides food to 1,200 clients and their families each month, and the Bliss House, a residential program for women in recovery. The food pantry needs canned goods and other food pantry items. Both need monetary donations.
Center for Women & Families
P.O. Box 2048, Louisville, KY, 40201; thecenteronline.org
The Center for Women & Families helps families experiencing domestic, intimate partner or sexual violence become survivors. It provides emergency shelter for families, including pets. The center needs monetary donations and donations from its Amazon Wish List. Purchase items and have them shipped directly to their location, which can be found at thecenteronline.org. Send donations by mail to: Development Office, The Center for Women and Families, P.O. Box 2048, Louisville, KY, 40201, or make them online at thecenteronline.org.
Coalition for the Homeless
1300 S. 4th St., #250; 502-636-9550; louhomeless.org
The Coalition for the Homeless' mission is to prevent and end homelessness across Louisville through advocacy, education, and the coordination of their partner agencies. It is seeking monetary donations.
Dare to Care Food Bank
5803 Fern Valley Road; donate.daretocare.org
The Dare to Care Food Bank is the leading nonprofit social service agency addressing the hunger needs of Kentuckiana. It partners with emergency kitchens, shelters and food pantries to get food into the hands of those who need it. The food bank is seeking monetary donations. To donate, go online and use PayPal or Venmo to donate or make your check payable to: Dare to Care Food Bank. Send to Dare to Care Food Bank, P.O. Box 35458, Louisville, KY, 40232.
The Dream Factory of Louisville
410 W. Chestnut St., #530; 502-561-3001; dreamfactoryinc.org
The Dream Factory of Louisville grants dreams for critically and chronically ill children. The groups need monetary donations to help with granting dreams. Donations can be mailed to 410 W. Chestnut St.,Suite 530, Louisville, KY 40202, or online through its website.
Family & Children's Place
525 Zane St.; famchildplace.org
For 140 years, the Family & Children's Place has helped children who are abused or neglected. It needs individuals, businesses and community groups to purchase and deliver gift cards in increments of $25. The gift cards will be used by the agency’s client families to buy gifts for their children. Care cards also can be purchased online at famchildplace.org. It also needs gift cards from MasterCard or VISA, Target and Walmart. For more information, contact Janet Tinsley, at 502-893-3900, ext. 265 or jtinsley@famchildplace.org.
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Louisville
1620 Bank St.; 502-637-6265; louisvillehabitat.org
Habitat for Humanity provides affordable housing solutions for local families in need through homeownership, home repair, and community development. It needs monetary donations, construction materials, land and furniture in good condition (for the ReStore).
Home of the Innocents
1100 E. Market St.; homeoftheinnocents.org
Home of the Innocents enriches the lives of children and families with hope, health, and happiness. Programs include residential and community-based behavioral health services, therapeutic foster care and adoption services, supportive services for homeless young adults, and long-term care for medically complex or terminally ill children. It has a wish list on its website. Items can be donated in person or purchased directly from the Amazon Wish List (homeoftheinnocents.org/wishlist) and shipped straight to the facility. Monetary donations are also needed. For more information visit the website.
House of Ruth
436 S. 7th St.; 502-587-5080; houseofruth.net
The House of Ruth serves families who are affected by HIV/AIDS and their families who are homeless, at risk of losing their homes, or need financial help. It needs monetary donations. Donations can be made online or through PayPal. Items can also be donated via its Amazon Wish List and shipped directly to the office.
Kentucky Humane Society
241 Steedly Drive; kyhumane.org
The Kentucky Humane Society helps cats, dogs, and horses in need. it is seeking monetary donations, donations from its wish list on its website (kyhumane.org/ways-to-give/wishlist), and donations from its wish list on Chewy and Amazon. Order online and have supplies shipped directly to KHS. Items can be dropped off: at East Campus at 1000 Lyndon Lane, a donation bin outside the front door, and at Sam Swope Pet Treatment & Lifesaving Center (also called the Main Campus) at 241 Steedly Drive. Go to the end of the parking lot and leave donations outside the admissions doors. Monetary donations are also needed.
Louisville Metro Animal Services
3528 Newburg Road; louisvilleky.gov/animalservices
Louisville Metro Animal Services needs donations of pet, household and medical supplies needed to care for the thousands of pets who enter the LMAS. There is a wish list on its website. Monetary donations are also needed. Donations can be shipped directly to the LMAS or dropped off daily from noon to 6 p.m., at Animal House Adoption Center, 3516 Newburg Road, 40218. For a complete list and more information, visit the website.
Louisville Zoo, Kroger Wild Winter Days Dare to Care Food Drive
1100 Trevilian Way; louisvillezoo.org/wildwinterdays
Guests who bring one canned food item or non-perishable food item per person (through Feb. 29, 2024) to donate to Dare to Care may purchase tickets at the Louisville Zoo window for $10 per adult and $7 per child/senior ticket. Most-needed items: canned meats and fruits, beans, peanut butter, hearty soups, rice, rice, cereal, fruit juice, pasta and canned vegetables. No glass containers. The Zoo is open daily year-round. Fall/winter hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (stay until 5 p.m.). The Zoo is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The discount is available at the gate only, not valid for online purchases.
Marine Toys for Tots Louisville
502-714-0245; louisville-ky.toysfortots.org
Marine Toys for Tots Louisville provides toys at Christmas for children and families in need in Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Henry, Owen and Letcher counties. A list of toys needed is on its website. It is also accepting monetary donations to help with toy purchases. Donate and get a list of toy drop-off locations on the website.
Maryhurst
1015 Dorsey Lane; maryhurst.org
Maryhurst is the oldest child welfare agency in Kentucky, standing together with children and families who are facing crisis-offering hope and healing. The organization needs gifts for its Holiday Gift Drive. Donate gift cards to Walmart, Target, Amazon, Meijer, Kohl’s or Old Navy in $25 increments. You can also fulfill one or more children’s full, individualized wish lists — this list will consist of three gifts (approximately $125) that the child has personally chosen. More information about gift wish lists and drop-offs can be found at maryhurst.org/holiday, or you can contact Lori Cecil at lori.cecil@maryhurst.org.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kentuckiana
550 S. First St.; rmhc-kentuckiana.org
Ronald McDonald House provides a home-away-from-home for families of children receiving healthcare at area medical facilities. Monetary donations are needed to help with cleaning supplies, meals, rooms and more. It has a wish list and an Amazon Wish List on its website.
Salvation Army Angel Tree
The Angel Tree program of Louisville helps families in need by providing new clothing and toys to children each year. Christmas gifts, toys, clothing and more are provided to children from infant to age 12 from low-income families. The trees will be located inside Oxmoor, St. Matthews, and Jefferson Malls beginning Nov. 6. Food Angels will be at all Kroger stores through December. You can also visit the website and donate. For more information or to adopt an angel, visit salvationarmylouisville.org or contact Kelly Hutchinson, Kelly.Hutchinson@uss.salvationarmy.org.
Salvation Army Red Kettles and Bell Ringers
Can you give just two hours of your time this season and volunteer as a Bell Ringer at a Red Kettle near you? The Salvation Army seeks to recruit more than 650 Volunteer Bell Ringers. Sign up to ring the bells and help those in need this Christmas season. Visit salvationarmylouisville.org or registertoring.com.
The Shamrock Foundation
502-585-3220, shamrockpets.com
The foundation is a group of highly committed, unpaid volunteers whose mission is to enhance the lives of companion animals through proactive programs such as spay/neuter, public education and adoption options. There are four ways to donate. (1): Direct donations by check. Send to The Shamrock Pet Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 24033, Louisville, KY 40224. (2): Direct donations with PayPal. (3): Donate each time you shop at Kroger. As you shop and buy items, you can identify a small percentage of each purchase to help Shamrock Pet Foundation. (4): Give a portion of cash-back savings when making purchases from participating online stores. For more information, shamrockpets.com.
Volunteers of America MidStates
570 South Fourth Street, Suite 100; 502-636-0771; voamid.org
Volunteers of America helps those facing challenges to find real and lasting solutions through research-driven programming, including family homelessness, addiction, developmental disabilities, HIV infection, and other issues facing individuals and communities. Monetary donations are needed and can be made online.
Reach news clerk Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Looking to give back this holiday? Places to donate in Louisville
