Fill a Need

Hundreds of homeless, hungry and hurting people come through our doors every day. With those numbers, stuff gets used up! Pick up some extra items at the store, get a group collection going or donate now to help feed the homeless.

Drop off your donations at any of our thrift stores or 225 Commerce Avenue SW.

Food Needs

Because Mel Trotter seeks to encourage healthy food choices, fat-free, low-fat, low-sodium, reduced sugar multi-grain varieties of the following are appreciated. We are also seeking more resources for fresh produce. Please contact Stephen McVittie at stephenmcvittie@meltrotter.org.

Canned Fruits
Canned Vegetables
Canned Meat (beef stew, chicken, tuna)
Canned Beans
Dry Beans (all varieties)
Rice
Cereal
Pasta Sauce
Tomato Sauce
Pasta and Rice Side Dishes
Complete Meals (hamburger or tuna helper)
Low Sodium Soups

Constant Needs

10 Ride bus cards for The Rapid
General medication, such as Tums, aspirin, cold medicine, etc.
Spiral bound notebooks
Twin size sheets
Bath towels
Scrubs
Body wash
Razors
Pillows
Baby bottles
Sippy cups
Onesies for babies (all sizes)
Bibs
Poster board
Colored pencils
Art pencils
Paint
Paint brushes
Sewing supplies
Yarn & thread

Children's Needs

Pack-n-plays
T-shirts for sizes 2-10, plain colored and printed
Sweatshirts, hoodies and light jackets for children (all ages)
Diapers all sizes
Wipes
Pacifiers
Teething rings
Formula
Bottles- without liners
Baby lotion
Baby wash

Men & Women's Needs

Industrial washer & dryer for the women's program
Men's jeans, size 38 and above
Men's underwear (boxers and briefs)
Women's larger size clothes
Feminine hygiene items
Slippers
NIV bibles
undergarments - larger sizes
Umbrellas
Large plastic totes

Clinical Needs

Vitamin B stress complex
Children's and infants Tylenol and ibuprofen
Cough drops
Adult cold medicine
Pepto Bismol
Neosporin ointment
Alcohol pads
Non-latex gloves (Medium/Large)
Vision Clinic is in need of "readers" and frames (non-prescription)
Dental Clinic is in need of denture cups and denture brushes (un-used)

Check out our WishList on Amazon!
Click here to see what our largest needs are, and you can ship them straight here.

Volunteer Agreement

Mel Trotter Ministries serves disadvantaged people in the Grand Rapids area through a Christ-centered, holistic program. Our primary goal is to restore these people to right relationships with God, their families, and society. We do this through crisis intervention and Biblical counseling, with the strategic support of concerned churches, organizations, individuals, and businesses.

The Mission requires volunteers to support the work, mission and Statement of Faith of Mel Trotter Ministries while they are donating their time. (Statement of Faith is available upon request.)

The Mission’s staff and volunteers are responsible for protecting the privacy of Mel Trotter clientele. No information about Mission clients is to be given verbally or in writing to agencies or people outside the Mission and no pictures are to be taken of clientele or guests without a signed release from the Mission and client/guest involved.

Volunteers are not to exchange personal information with the clients/guests of Mel Trotter Ministries (i.e. phone number, mailing address, e-mail addresses or any other contact information). It is also agreed that volunteers will not give gifts of any kind to clients/guests including money (dollars or loose change), clothing, personal care products, cigarettes, or any other items.

Mel Trotter Ministries maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding alcohol and/or drug use at any of the mission facilities for staff, clients and volunteers. Anyone determined to be in possession of or under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs will be terminated from the volunteer program immediately.

It is also agreed that volunteers will not receive any goods for the services they provide. It shall also be understood that volunteers are not to take any items (food, clothing, household items, etc.) from Mel Trotter Ministries without the written authorization from the director of the department in which they are volunteering. If volunteers are caught taking any items from any department within the ministry without proper authorization, this will be constituted as stealing and your volunteer service will be terminated effective immediately.

Mel Trotter Ministries staff will occasionally photograph volunteers for the purpose of promoting the ministry. These photos could be used for promoting the ministry on the internet or in a publication.

As a non-profit agency, Mel Trotter Ministries does not provide liability insurance for volunteers.

I have read the above statement and am in agreement and understand that these policies are in place for the safety of the volunteers, clients and guests of Mel Trotter Ministries. By submitting this agreement, I certify that I am 18 years or older and authorize Mel Trotter Ministries to conduct a criminal background check.