We Accept Donations of the Specific Items on This List
Every week, we put together care packs containing “snack packs,” water, socks, and burritos for our homeless friends in downtown West Palm Beach. We use the following carefully-selected, successfully-tested items from Walmart (prices listed were accurate as of August 2022):
Ten (10) of these boxes: Great Value – Peanut Butter & Dark Chocolate Protein Granola Bars, 5 count. Price: $2.87 each (or, if these are out of stock, substitute Aldi’s Millville Protein Chewy Bars)
Three (3) of these boxes: Great Value – Chocolate Chip Chocolate Chip Dipped Chewy Granola Bars, 20 count. Price: $5.54 each (or, if these are out of stock, substitute two [2] of these: Quaker Chewy Dipps Granola Bars, Chocolate Chip, 30 Count. Price: $8.27 each; or if the Quaker brand is out of stock, substitute 8 to 9 Millville Chewy Dipped granola bars from Aldi, price: $1.69 each.)
Two (2) of these packs: Variety Pack Fruit & Grain Cereal Bars, 32 count. Price: $6.46 each
Two (2) of these cartons: Austin Sandwich Crackers, Peanut Butter on Toasty, 27 count. Price: $7.12 per carton
Seven (7) of these cartons: Munchies Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, 8 count. Price: $2.38 per carton. (Note: these are not on the aisle with other crackers; they are in a separate display in the main aisle.)
Seven (7) of these cartons: Munchies Cheddar Cheese Sandwich Crackers, 8 count. Price: $2.38 per carton. (Note: these are not on the aisle with other crackers; they are in a separate display in the main aisle.)
Three (3) of these packs: Great Value Purified Drinking Water, 24 count. Price: $3.48 per pack
Four (4) of these packs: Athletic Works Men’s Crew Socks (must be “Crew,” not “ankle,” not “no show,” not “low cut”), Gray, Size 6-12, 12 Pairs. Price: $10.98 per pack (or, if gray is not available, the black color or the white color is fine).
One (1) of these: Great Value Double Zipper Quart Storage Bags 50 count. Price: $2.34 per box
Total Cost of all the above items from Walmart (for one week) is $162.50 .
All of the above items are from Walmart, but we buy the final item, below, from Taco Bell:
Fifty (50) of these: Taco Bell Cheesy Bean and Rice Burritos at a total cost of $53.50 (of course, these cannot be stored or put into the care packs until the day of distribution; we buy these fresh and hot at Taco Bell on Friday evenings on our way to the site; and we also insert the napkins and hot sauce packets–which come along with these–into the care packs). Since burritos are made fresh the same day, we cannot accept donations other than monetary gifts to help cover their cost.
Overall Total Cost of all the above items from Walmart and Taco Bell (for one week) is $216.
And there is another item that we have distributed from time to time, which we want to provide every week because it is very nutritious, containing one-third (or more) of the daily requirement of vitamins and minerals, and homeless people tend to be deficient in vitamins and minerals:
Four (4) to five (5) of these packs (each containing 12 bottles) @ $11.98 each: Equate Meal Replacement Chocolate Shake Creamy Milk Chocolate, at a total cost of $47.92 to $59.90 (if out of stock, substitute 8 or 9 packs of Aldi’s Elevation Meal Replacement Chocolate Shake [6 bottles per pack] at about $6.00 each for a total cost of $48.00 to $54.00). Each bottle has 10 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, and 24 vitamins and minerals (35% or more of the recommended daily allowance of each). So one bottle, which costs a dollar, can truly replace a meal in terms of nutrition, or it can act as a nutritious supplement to their other food.
Overall Total Cost of all the above items from Walmart and Taco Bell (for one week) is about $265 to $271.
How We Assemble the Snack Packs and Care Packs
Step 1. Insert the crackers as the bottom row / back row of the Snack Pack (in a Quart Storage Bag, mentioned above)
Step 2. Insert the nutrition bars as the top row / front row of the Snack Pack.
Step 3. Insert the snack pack and the water into a larger clear plastic bag (10″ x 12,” similar to a Gallon bag; we will provide the clear 10″x12″ bags).
Step 4. Insert the napkins and hot sauce (from Taco Bell) into the Care Pack.
Step 5. Insert a pair of socks into the Care Pack (behind the Snack Pack). The photo below is viewed from the rear.
Step 6. Now the Care Pack is complete (except for a burrito, which Brighten The Corner’s volunteers will add on the evening of distribution because they are purchased hot from Taco Bell).
Thanks for your interest in helping people who are experiencing homelessness!
