Fill a Need

Hundreds of people who are homeless and hungry come through our doors every day. We are constantly in need of these items to care for those in need. Consider hosting a drive to stock our shelves, giving now or shopping our wish-list on Amazon.

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

Please note: thanks to so many generous donors, our shelves are stocked with winter scarves that will last us through Winter 2017 - 2018. If you would like to fill a need, we ask that you use the list below as a guide.

Hygiene Items

Diapers (sizes 4-6)
Diaper cream
Baby wash, lotion, and diaper cream
Men's disposable razors: 2-3 blades
Travel-size soap bars
Men's full-size body wash, shampoo, conditioner
Men's full-size lotion
Hygiene kits for youth
Womens's full-size shampoo and conditioner
Women's full-size body wash

Clothing Items

Men’s jeans, size 30 and above
Men’s underwear (boxers & briefs), Small - XL
Men's t-shirts (sizes M-XL)
Men's boots
Children’s sweatshirts, hoodies, light jackets (all sizes)
Children’s closed-toe shoes (all ages)
Children’s pajamas (sizes 8-16)
Women's scrubs 4X-6X (used as pajamas for emergency shelter guests)
Women’s plus size clothes
Women’s plus size undergarments
Women's boots
Slippers
Young men's sweaters
Young men's coats

Clinic Items

Please contact Nancy Bonin at nancybonin@meltrotter.org or 616-588-8711 if you would like to donate the following items:

Infant Tylenol (liquid)
Adult Tylenol (tablets)
Adult Benadryl (tablets)
Adult Dayquil (liquid)
Miralax powder
Anti-diarrheal (tablets)
Hydrocortisone cream
Chiropractic table

Mission items

1 ton box truck (Contact Doreen Sturgis for details at doreensturgis@meltrotter.org)
New or gently used bath towels
New standard-sized pillows
Pillow cases
Twin-size sheets
Commercial carpet cleaner
Snow shovels
Toilet brushes
Laundry soap
Toilet paper
Industrial washer & dryer
NIV Bibles
Umbrellas
Large plastic totes
Hand warmers
3 twin size beds
3 dressers
3 night stands
2 sets of living area furniture
Coffee table
Couch
1 Dining table with 4-6 chairs
1 set of pots and pans
Dishes (set of 6)
Flatware (set of 6)
Cooking utensils
Kitchen towels
Hampers
Sets of twin size sheets and pillow cases
Towels
Cleaning supplies
Laundry detergent
Iron
Ironing table
Vacuum
Swiffer mop and replacement pads
1 TV
1 DVD player
Radio
1 TV stand
Outdoor patio furniture
Gas grill

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.