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Projects

Poverty and Disaster Relief


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Appalachian Outreach has delivered over 1400 tons of goods to poverty- and disaster-stricken areas of West Virginia. The map at right shows the counties where we currently provide assistance, as well as the areas we hope to serve in the near future.

We are in need of the following items for outreach in southern West Virginia:

  • Soap and hand sanitizer
  • Shampoo
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Mouthwash and dental floss
  • Shaving needs
  • Toilet tissue
  • Baby furniture, clothes, and care items
  • Children's wear (infant and toddler)
  • Men's and women's clothes (size 1X and above)
  • Jackets and boots
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Disposable diapers or Depends
  • Nonperishable food
  • Bottled water
  • Bedding and linens
  • Towels and curtains
  • Clean rugs or carpeting
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Laundry soap
  • Windows and doors
  • Kitchen and bath cabinets
  • Countertops
  • Vinyl siding and roofing materials
  • Drywall
  • Paint and painting supplies
  • Nails and bolts
  • Tools (hand or power)
  • Next-to-new furniture and appliances
  • Air conditioners or fans
  • Working televisions
  • Housewares
  • Toys, games, puzzles, and children's books
  • School and art supplies
  • Sporting goods

Items that are not needed include:

  • Dress clothes, suits, or high heels
  • Dirty, rusty, or torn items
  • Junk

Packing directions:

  • Use boxes with lids or strong bags.
  • Separate and check items before packing.
  • Label each box or bag (men's, women's, children's, baby, winter, summer, etc.).

Baby Bonus Boxes

Newborn babies and their parents need a boost as they leave the hospital to go home. By taking a shoebox or plastic container of similar size and filling it with appropriate items, you can help parents get off to a good start with their new arrival.

We suggest the following items for a Baby Bonus Box:

  • Diapers
  • Wipes
  • Diaper rash ointment
  • Baby powder
  • Baby shampoo
  • Baby oil
  • Vaseline
  • Thermometer
  • Hairbrushes or combs
  • Sleepers
  • Onesies
  • Small stuffed animals
  • Receiving blankets
  • Shoes and socks
  • Hats
  • Bottles and nipples
  • Spoons
  • Teething rings
  • Bibs
  • Pacifiers
  • Rattles

Shoebox Santas

Many adults throughout West Virginia are in need of personal hygiene and small gift items, which are often unaffordable or unavailable through food stamps and other public assistance programs. Appalachian Outreach delivers these items to individuals in need as part of the Shoebox Santa program every Christmas season.

We suggest the following items for a Shoebox Santa:

  • Soap (bar or liquid)
  • Shampoo
  • Deodorant
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Denture cleaner and adhesive
  • Mouthwash and dental floss
  • Razors and blades
  • Shaving cream and aftershave
  • Hairbrushes or combs
  • Tweezers
  • Nail clippers
  • Corn plasters
  • Hand lotion
  • Perfume
  • Notepads, pens, and pencils
  • Large print cards
  • Magnifying glasses
  • Stamps
  • Dominoes, checkers, etc.
  • Band-Aids
  • Hose
  • Gloves
  • Folding umbrellas