Inside 43215: Making a Change Downtown
The damp chill in autumn’s air is a delicious reminder that there’s no place like home. Home is warm and comforting and secure…unless you have no place to call home.
The problem of homelessness in Columbus is real. In fact, it’s so real that from October 15 through April 15, community shelters abandon capacity limits and provide shelter to all who seek it. Places like Faith Mission normally house 238 people; during January and February that figure nearly doubles. Tom Albanese of the Community Shelter Board put it succinctly, “Numbers fluctuate by the season, but folks who are normally reluctant to seek help will come in when it’s cold.”
While it’s lots of fun giving toys to holiday charity drives, basic necessities like toothpaste and shower gel are in desperate need – it’s the teeny sample sizes that work best for group housing. Area shelters also need toothbrushes, travel-sized soap and shampoo, razors, combs, new socks and underwear.
Starting this week, you can make a big difference by dropping off these items at boxes found in the lobbies of downtown’s major office towers. The Capital Crossroads’ iCart will also be stationed at various high traffic areas in the core of Downtown during lunch time from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, Tuesday – Friday through November 21, with staff available to accept donations. Call (614) 228-5718 for exact locations.
Monetary donations are also appreciated. A buck (that’s maybe half-a-cup of decaf) buys a week’s worth of toothpaste and soap. It’s time to put your change where you can really and truly make one.
Needed Toiletries
- Travel size soap and shower gel
- Travel size shampoo
- Travel size toothpaste
- Toothbrushes
- Travel size lotion
- Travel size shaving cream
- Disposable razors
- Feminine hygiene products
- Combs
- Socks
- Underwear
- Other toiletries
Drop-Off Locations
- 10 E. Broad St.
- 20 E. Broad St.
- 100 E. Broad St.
- 225 E. Broad St.
- 37 W. Broad St.
- 50 W. Broad St.
- 17 S. High St.
- 280 Plaza
- The Rhodes Tower
- The Riffe Center
- 140 E. Town St.
- 141 E. Town St
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:07 pm
I think this is a great added benefit reading about helping others in DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS!
I just moved here in July from out of state and was looking to get involved in a positive way to help others! I will review the list and drop stuff off very soon!
Will you please consider other areas new members of the community can connect on a human level to not only help people but to meet other positive liked minded people?
Thank You,
Sue
October 26th, 2007 at 11:31 am
I rounded up lots of toiletries and other items, but today I couldn’t locate a drop box or the I-cart. Please publish a list of which office towers the boxes are in? thanks very much, Linda