Hope’s Closet is an in-house thrift shop exclusively serving clients of YWCA Dayton. Established in 2003 by the Junior League of Dayton, it ensures women and children fleeing violence have access to warm, clean clothes at any hour of the day or night. Hope’s Closet is also a resource for children’s school attire, job interview and/or work uniforms and apparel for women, and next-size clothing for children who outgrow what they arrive in shelter wearing.

Year-Round
Women’s underwear (also all sizes, all genders)
Women’s socks (also all sizes, all genders)
Bras
Tennis/casual shoes
Clothing hangers
Hair brushes and wide-tooth combs
Umbrellas

Spring & Summer
Short-sleeve shirts
Blouses
Dresses and skirts
Shorts
Dress shoes
Sandals
Children’s & teens clothing (especially girls clothing 2T through juniors & boys clothing 5 through men’s small)
Rakes
Gardening Tools

Kitchen Items
Small appliances (toasters, microwaves, hand mixers, etc.)
Cooking & baking utensils
Baking pans & sheets
Aluminum foil & cling wrap
Disposable napkins, plates, bowls and cups
Silverware
Oven mitts/pot holders
Mixing bowls
Travel mugs

Cleaning Items
Trash cans and garbage bags
Paper towels
All-purpose cleaner
Bleach
Broom and dust pan
Dish towels
Dishwashing liquid and sponges
Disinfecting wipes and spray
Mop and bucket
Plunger
Toilet bowel brush and cleaner
Toilet paper
Toilet/bath tub mats
Tub and shower cleaner
Laundry baskets/hampers
Laundry detergent & dryer sheets

Household Items
Small appliances (irons, hair dryers, etc.)
Air mattresses
Twin-sized sheet sets and blankets
Bath towels, hand towels and wash cloths

Personal Care Items
Perfume and body spray
Nail polish
Makeup
Jewelry and decorative hair ties/clips
Wall and desk art (especially inspirational pieces)

*Items in ORANGE indicate greatest need.

YWCA Dayton shelters upwards of 100 women and children every day at its facilities in Montgomery and Preble counties, doing so for over 40 years in Dayton and 15 in Preble County. The majority of women and families we serve arrive at our shelters with no, or very few, possessions.

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We accept:
New and gently used items

We CANNOT accept:
Items that are damaged, broken and/or missing parts
Open toiletries/hygiene products
Used stuffed animals
Used car seats
Wire hangers

Shelter Intake Items
Shampoo/conditioner and other hair products, especially for women of color
Body wash
Hand/body lotion
Deodorant
Disposable razors
Toothbrushes & toothpaste
Depends (XL and XXL)
Tampons and sanitary napkins
Clothing hangers
Twin-sized sheet sets
Twin-sized comforters/blankets
Towels & wash cloths
First aid kits
Umbrellas
Sunscreen
Bug spray
Disposable razors
Desk fans
Strollers
Ziploc bags
Basketball hoops

Children’s Items
Hypoallergenic, scent-free kids’ shampoo and lotion
Baby wipes
Coloring books
Markers/Crayons
Infant thermometers
Soy-based infant formula
Hypoallergenic infant formula (i.e., Similac Alimentum)
Premature infant formula (i.e., Similac Neosure)
Burp cloths
Diapers (including swim diapers and Pull-Ups)
Infant/toddler toys (especially musical, light-up or vibrating toys)
Playing cards`
Small/medium-sized Lego sets
Hair brushes and wide-tooth combs
Strollers

*Items in ORANGE indicate greatest need.

Note: Gift cards are also extremely helpful! They allow case managers to purchase baby supplies, toys and birthday gifts as needed and tailor them to individual children’s abilities. Most frequently visited stores include: Walmart, Target, Meijer, Big Lots and Carter’s.

YWCA Dayton provides three nutritional meals, plus snacks, every day to clients in our Montgomery County domestic violence shelter. Additionally, we operate a food pantry, an in-house program that provides healthy food items, cooking/baking supplies, and nutritional information and education to the women and families we serve in our domestic violence shelters and transitional housing units. Both are stocked in large part by community donations and operate year-round.

We CANNOT accept:
Meat or eggs
Expired food
Opened food
Dented/damaged containers
Dairy products (milk, cottage cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, shredded/sliced cheese, yogurt, butter)
Refrigerated desserts

As much as possible, we prefer whole grain/wheat and no or low sodium/sugar items. Specialty diet items (i.e., gluten-free, lactose-free), are especially appreciated. Thank you!

Fruits & Vegetables*
Fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables
Dried fruits
Canned fruits and vegetables (in fruit juice/water)
Tomatoes (canned, crushed, diced)

Condiments/Seasonings
BBQ sauce
Pasta sauce (tomato and alfredo)
Salad dressings (Italian, French, ranch, Caesar)
Coffee creamer (shelf-stable)
Maple syrup
Jelly/jam
Ketchup
Mustard
Mayonnaise
Soy sauce (low sodium)
Grated Parmesan cheese (shelf stable)
Peanut butter
Fresh or dried herbs
Garlic or onion powder
Salt or pepper
Lemon juice

Baking/Cooking
Cooking spray
Vegetable, olive, or canola oil
Vinegar (apple cider and white)
Flour (all-purpose and whole grain)
Sugar (granulated, brown, and powered)
Cake/muffin mix

Paper Products
Aluminum foil
Sandwich bags
9″ paper plates
12 oz. bowls
Napkins/paper towels
Plastic wrap
Gallon bags (Ziploc closure)
Paper cups
Utensils

Beverages
100% juice (apple, orange, grape, cranberry)
Coffee
Water
Tea

Frozen Foods
Waffles/pancakes/French toast
Pizza
Bagels
French fries/tater tots
Fruits and vegetables

Breads & Dry Goods
Rice
Beans
Hamburger/hot dog buns
Sandwich bread
Bagels
Rolls/French bread
Pasta
Cereal/oatmeal
Taco shells

Snacks*
Crackers
Popcorn
Pretzels
Jell-O
Pudding
Cereal bars/granola bars
Dried fruit
Nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios)
Trail mix
Tortilla chips
Baked chips/snacks

*Items in ORANGE indicate greatest need.

Did you know? YWCA Dayton serves approximately 30 children in shelter every month. Our children’s program team works hard to make sure celebrations can continue, especially  birthdays. We hold monthly birthday parties for our shelter children to help them celebrate, complete with cake, games, and gifts.

Be a Birthday Buddy! There are three ways to help:

1. Sponsor a Birthday Party for $150, which covers decorations, cake, snacks, gifts, and party games. Perfect if you’re short on time!
   • Donate now or contact info@ywcadayton.org for more details.
   • 2022 Months Available: October, November, December
2. Host a Birthday Party by volunteering your time to help set up and decorate, lead party games, and assist with cleanup. We are also looking for venues to donate use of their space to our kids as a party location. Parties are held the first week of every month. Great if you want to provide hands-on help!
   • Email volunteers@ywcadayton.org now to sign up.
   • 2022 Months Available: August, September, October, November, December
3. Support a Birthday Party by donating a party kit (see items below). Ideal for groups and organizations!
   • Download a donation drive toolkit or contact info@ywcadayton.org for more details.
   • 2022 Months Available: August, September, October, November, December
4. Celebrate Your Birthday with impact by starting a Facebook fundraiser in support of YWCA Dayton. Also helps to raise awareness!
   • CLICK HERE for easy step-by-step instructions or follow THIS LINK.

We accept:
New/unused items

We CANNOT accept:
Items that are damaged, broken and/or missing parts

Birthday Party Kits
*Serves approximately 30*
Decorations (balloons, streamers, centerpieces, etc.; themed items — carnival, animals, etc. — welcome and appreciated!)
Birthday sheet cake & candles
Plates, cups, utensils & napkins
Individually-wrapped snacks & drinks
Disposable tablecloths (rectangular)
Gifts (board games, toys, books, etc.; contact us for current ages being celebrated)
$25 Walmart gift card (included with every child’s gift to assist with family necessities)
Wrapping paper, tape, tissue paper & gift bags
Birthday cards
Party games (pin the head, Bingo, minute to win it, etc.)
Hand sanitizer & disinfecting wipes
Garbage bags

Did you know? YWCA Dayton serves approximately 30 children in shelter every month. Working with local school districts, our shelter team ensures all school-age children maintain their school attendance and performance while their mother focuses on building safety and stability for her family. Additionally, our youth programs like Girls LEAD!, AMEND Together, and Shift reach more than 1,000 teens each year across Montgomery and Preble counties.

This back-to-school season, we invite you to join our Back 2 School Wish List program. Donations to this program are arranged in an onsite Back 2 School Festival for families in our domestic violence shelters, housing, and youth programs, helping them to start the school year prepared and empowered. Thank you!

Download 2022 Back 2 School Wish List information packet here!

Questions? Email volunteers@ywcadayton.org.

In a hurry? Shop this list on Amazon.com! Plus, if you choose YWCA Dayton as your Amazon Smile beneficiary, YW gets 0.5% back on your purchase.

We accept:
New/unused items

We CANNOT accept:
Items that are well-used, damaged, broken and/or missing parts.

School Supplies
Baby wipes
Backpacks
Binders
Book covers
Calculators
Colored pencils
Compasses
Composition books
Construction paper
Correction fluid/tape
Crayons
Disinfecting wipes
Erasers
Folders
Glue & glue sticks
Graph paper
Headphones
Highlighters
Loose-leaf paper
Lunch boxes
Markers
Notebooks
Note cards
Paper towels
Pencil pouches & pencil boxes
Pencils & mechanical pencil lead
Pens
Pocket dictionaries
Post-it notes
Protractors
Rulers
Scissors
Tab dividers
Tissues
Uniforms – all sizes
Ziploc bags (all sizes)

*Items in ORANGE indicate greatest need.