Women and Children’s Horizons
Youth and Family Project Suggestions

Women and Children’s Horizons recognizes the value and importance of children learning to volunteer and give of themselves. The creativity and genuine dedication to service these young people possess is amazing and inspiring. WCH offers programming and shelter for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Our residents and children are without food, homes, and many times clothing and grooming items. Due to confidentiality issues, juveniles cannot volunteer within the shelter. Below are some ideas that you and/or your family can do to help victims.

• Have a canned food drive
• Have a paper product or school supply drive
• Have an art supply drive
• Make craft project kits – include all of the supplies and instructions.
• Sponsor a coin collection drive in school or through a local community group. You would be surprised how many pennies can be collected in school or with a group. This money can be used to purchase items on our wish list or given directly to WCH.
• Have a healthy snack food drive for the children at the shelter.
• Grow a vegetable garden and donate some of the product to the shelter.
• Sponsor a birthday party kit – include supplies for a celebration, cake mix, frosting, candles, hats, tablecloth, etc. (for both boys and girls). These can be kept on hand for the children’s special days.
• Have a personal product drive – shampoo, deodorant, hair conditioner, special styling products for African American hair, barrettes, etc. are all needed and used.
• Have a children’s pajama or underwear drive.

Thank you for your interest in wanting to make a difference in the lives of our clients.

How to Run a Drive

1. WCH has a wish list and accepts donations.
2. Decide when your drive will start and for how long. A month is an average length.
3. Let WCH personnel know you are doing this, and the approximate date your drive will end.
4. If this is a group effort, ask for volunteers to perform tasks. For example, assign some members to publicity, some members to create the collection bin and artwork, and others to find collection locations.
5. Determine locations for donation collection bins and ask appropriate personnel for permission to leave the bins there. Most places allow the containers if it is for a limited time and doesn’t conflict with any other groups. Suggested sites include: your school, church, local library, community center, municipal building, local business or another indoor location.
6. Create a collection bin – a large cardboard box is sufficient. Get creative and decorate it. Be sure to put the name of the family or group spearheading the drive as well as the WCH name.
7. Check your collection bin at least once a week and empty it so it doesn’t overflow.

Mission Statement
"The mission of Women and Children's Horizons is to provide support, education, training and healing for victims of sexual and domestic violence/abuse."