Holiday Giving and Volunteering

The holidays are a wonderful time to celebrate and give thanks, and to reach out and share your gifts with those who are less fortunate. There are many ways that you and your friends, family or co-workers can help the homeless and hungry women, children and men that SOME serves this holiday season.

We are fortunate to have enough volunteers for our holiday meals and activities. Thank you all for giving so generously of your time. Please check out our Volunteer page to learn more about the volunteer opportunities available year-round at SOME.

Here are some of the ways that you can help the homeless this holiday season:

• Donate to SOME and help provide food, clothing, medical care, housing and supportive services to homeless men, women and children


• Host a Clothing, Food or Shoebox Gift Drive to help feed, clothe and cheer the hundreds of homeless individuals that come to SOME each day


• Provide breakfast for 300 homeless guests, dental care for a homeless man or woman, or shelter to an abused or neglected senior by purchasing a Gift for SOMEone Special

Clothing, Food and Shoebox Gift Drives

By holding a Winter Clothing Drive, Food Drive or Shoebox Gift Drive you can provide a coat, a hot meal or a festively wrapped gift to a person in need.

Shoebox gifts, clothing and food donations may be dropped off at 71 O Street NW, 8:00AM - 2PM, everyday until December 18. For questions, comments, or to make arrangements for a food, clothing or shoebox gift pick-up, please contact Brian Bilenki, Donations Coordinator, at bbilenki@some.org or at (202) 797-8806 ext. 2104.

Food Wish List

Canned meat (tuna, salmon, chicken), lasagna noodles, condiments (ketchup, salad dressing, mayonnaise, mustard, hot sauce, relish), tomato sauce, macaroni and cheese, egg noodles, snacks (granola bars, pretzels, chips, cookies, crackers), Sweet and Low, cereal (hot and cold, low-sugar), juice (boxes and bottles), jelly, peanut butter, canned vegetables (restaurant-size #10 cans), canned fruit, cake mix and icing.

Shoebox Gifts

A shoebox gift is a shoebox filled with personal items useful to a homeless man, woman, or child. We ask that you PLEASE WRAP THE LID AND BOX SEPARATELY. This will help SOME staff and volunteers to insure that the shoebox contents are equitable. Also, please place a tag on the outside of each box designating whether it is for a "MAN", "WOMAN", or "CHILD."

In the case of a shoebox gift for a child, please also indicate the age range (and gender, if applicable) of the intended recipient. Finally, please consider that as we serve many more men than women, we need more men's shoeboxes than women's shoeboxes.

Each box should include:

MEN: A hat, a scarf, a pair of gloves (sets are extra nice). A pair of socks and a pair of underwear. Large or trial size deodorant, razors, trial size soap, shampoo, lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste.

WOMEN: A hat, a scarf, a pair of gloves (sets are extra nice). A pair of socks and a pair of underwear. Large or trial size deodorant, razors, trial size soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion.

CHILDREN: A toy and/or game. A hat, a scarf, a pair of gloves (sets are extra nice). A pair of socks and a pair of underwear. Trial size soap, shampoo, lotion.

*Items should be new and unopened.

*Long johns also make great presents.

Warm Clothing Drive

Help homeless men and women stay warm this holiday season by donating fall and winter clothing. We are in need of fall and winter clothing in all sizes and styles, and are particularly in need of larger sizes (XL and above). Jackets, coats, jeans, sweatshirts, sweaters, hats, gloves and scarves are needed. We are also looking for packages of new underwear and socks.

Please note: due to limited space in our Clothing Room we are only able to accept fall and winter clothing from November through January.

Donate to SOME