Donate goods

Compassionate healthcare, now and for the long-term

Your generous donation of goods can help steer a family towards stability and health, empowering us to transform lives with healthcare, education and essentials. Families experiencing homelessness lack basic securities—food, clothing, personal care products and shelter—that their housed peers take for granted. Such conditions have profound effects on their health and futures.

In-kind gifts provide families with necessities, representing some of our most crucial relief work. Thank you—together, we can be a beacon of change.

What our families need

Baby and toddler items, personal care items, clothing, snacks and household goods are among our family’s top needs. Most families don’t have storage, so smaller packages are best (except for diapers).

Baby and toddler items

New items only

  • Diapers: newborn to size 7, larger sizes preferred and pull-ups

  • Baby blankets, burp cloths, bibs and towels

  • Wipes

  • Clothes: coats, jackets, footsie PJs and onesies

  • Breast and bottle feeding supplies and formula

Clothing for little kids, teens and adults

  • Clean, new or very gently used. Small to XXXL, all genders

  • Cool season clothing: jackets, coats, gloves, hats, long-sleeve t-shirts and hoodies

  • Professional clothing

  • Casual clothing: jeans, sweats (especially need kids pull-on pants)

  • Socks

  • Shoes

  • Underwear, undershirts and bras (new only)

Personal care/hygiene items

  • New, unopened packaging, all genders

  • Shampoo and conditioner

  • Face wash and soap

  • Deodorant

  • Lotion

  • Toothbrushes and toothpaste

  • Hygiene wipes

  • Menstrual care: tampons and pads

  • Hairbrushes and combs

Household items

New, unopened packaging, small size

  • Dish soap

  • Sponges and scrub brushes

  • Laundry detergent

Food

Non-perishable

  • Fruit snacks and granola bars

Camp Rise Up supplies

New items only, all genders

  • Blankets

  • Pillows and pillowcases

  • Towels for bath and pool

  • Shampoo and conditioner

  • Face wash and soap

  • Deodorant

  • Lotion

  • Toothbrushes and toothpaste

  • Hygiene wipes

  • Menstrual care: tampons & pads

  • Hairbrushes and combs

  • Nail clippers and files

  • Loofahs

  • Binders (no graphics)

  • Puberty/teen books. Here’s one we like

How to donate goods

We are grateful for every donation and want to ensure that goods arrive safely and that you are acknowledged for your generosity. Unannounced drop-offs are hard to process during our busy clinic days, so please do not show up without first notifying us. Please email donategoods@thefloatinghospital.org to tell us what you want to donate and if you are sending or dropping off goods. Pick-up is often available for large donations.

For safety reasons, we cannot accept used or expired items, food and personal care items in open packages, or home-cooked/prepared food. We do accept clean, gently used clothing in wearable condition.

Shipshape care kits

Creating Shipshape care kits can be a fun and fulfilling project for your family, team or organization. Here are two examples of kits in high demand. We are also happy to hear your ideas. Please email donategoods@thefloatinghospital.org and let us know you are interested in creating Shipshape care kits.

Shipshape personal care kit

New items only, all genders (travel-sized items are best)

  • Shampoo & conditioner

  • Face wash & soap

  • Deodorant

  • Lotion

  • Toothbrushes and toothpaste

  • Hygiene wipes

  • Menstrual care: tampons & pads

  • Hairbrushes & combs

Camp Rise Up personal care kit for teens

New items only, all genders (travel-sized items are best)

  • Shampoo & conditioner

  • Face wash & soap

  • Deodorant

  • Lotion

  • Toothbrushes and toothpaste

  • Hygiene wipes

  • Menstrual care: tampons & pads

  • Hairbrushes & combs

  • Nail clippers and files

  • Loofahs

  • Binders (no graphics)

  • Puberty/teen books. Here’s one we like

Host a drive

A drive is a beautiful way to help families in need and build community goodwill. We have multiple annual events that rely on community drives for their success, such as our Women’s Wellness Days of Self-care and Candy Cane Lane year-end holiday family celebration. We’ll work with you to help launch your drive.

Other ways to donate

There are many other ways to give the gift of good health to thousands of children and families in New York City.