We take what people can spare and put it in the hands of people who need it.
That is the whole mission, and it is not complicated. Latice Donation Center is a nonprofit in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Donations come in, and they go out to people in our community who are having a hard time — no forms, no interrogation, no making anyone feel small for asking.
Why we are working toward a building
Right now we do not have a place of our own. That means we cannot yet take in bags of clothing, boxes of shoes or household goods the way we want to — there is simply nowhere to put them, and no way to sort them so they reach the right person.
So for now we do it the harder way: donations come in, and we get them out to people directly, one at a time. It works. It is just slower than it should be, and it leaves good donations unclaimed.
A building changes that. It gives us a door to open, a place to sort, and room to keep things until the person who needs them walks in. That is what the shirts, the hoodies and the raffles are paying for.
Until then, every dollar and every hour still counts. It just takes a little longer to get where it is going.
What we will accept, once the doors open
Here is exactly what we are planning to take in. We are not collecting items yet — call or text (980) 403-1102 and we will tell you the moment that changes.
Clothing
Men’s, women’s and children’s
Coats and jackets, jeans and pants, shirts, dresses, school clothes, and warm layers for winter. Clean and ready to be worn again.
Shoes
All sizes, all seasons
Sneakers, boots, work shoes and sandals, in every size. Children’s shoes are the single thing we are asked for most.
Household items
Clean and in working order
Pots and pans, dishes, silverware, bedding, towels, curtains, and small working appliances — the things that turn a room into a home.
What we cannot take
- Furniture and mattresses — we have nowhere to store them yet
- Televisions and large electronics
- Anything broken, stained or unsafe to pass on
- Food, medication and perishables
How we try to do this
A donation center is really a trust. Someone gives something they could have sold, and someone else asks for help they would rather not have to ask for. Both of those deserve care.
No one is a case number
We help people, not paperwork. If someone needs a coat, they get a coat.
Every gift is used as given
Money put toward the Building Fund goes to the building. Money for the raffle goes to the raffle. If you meant it for something, that is where it goes.
We tell you what we did
Give us a way to reach you and you will hear from a real person at Latice, not an automated receipt.
Help us get the keys.
A gift, a shirt, a raffle ticket, an hour of your Saturday — all of it is a step toward a building on a street in Harrisburg.