For National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, help keep our homeless neighbors warm this winter. The Dallas Public Library is collecting warm winter supplies and adult backpacks. Work with family and friends to fill packs with adult gender-neutral items or collect supplies.
Drop off adult backpacks and supplies to any local Dallas Public Library location by Wednesday, November 8, 2023.
Please donate the following items with your backpack
• New or gently used backpack
• Gloves
• Warm hat
• Warm socks
• Scarf
• Fleece blanket
• Rain poncho
• Refi¬llable water bottle
• Deck of playing cards
• Travel size toiletries: toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant and lotion
Don’t have time to pack a bag, but want to help?
The Friends of the Dallas Public Library support bulk purchases of needed items as well as ongoing programming needs. To make a financial donation to the project, visit www.supportdpl.org.
It takes volunteers to make this happen. For Dallas Public Library volunteer information, visit https://dallaslibrary2.org/supportUs/volunteer.php.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring children’s items?
This drive specifically focuses on adults in need. Children and youth have opportunities to receive backpacks in association with school programs. Adults don’t get this opportunity, but our adults experiencing homelessness need sturdy, comfortable packs to help them maintain important items like their ID, birth certificate, and extra clothes.
Can I add extras to the backpacks?
We carefully check backpacks to insure that each person who receives a pack gets the same items. While we would love to giveaway more, we are trying to be mindful of waste and fairness. If you would like to donate additional items, please do! We often need to supplement a backpack donation with a missing item.
Do I need to donate a complete backpack?
We love getting complete backpacks because that cuts down on the time and resources needed to add missing items. However, we will take any of the items on the list or just backpacks themselves.
Can I bring gender-specific items?
In an effort to meet everyone’s needs, please limit items to non-gendered items. We collect and make available feminine hygiene products to offer in addition to the backpacks for our female visitors.
What if I miss the deadline?
Turning items in on time helps us insure we have all the items in each back. However, the backpacks aren’t given out until November 24, so if you can get backpacks to the Central Library by November 20, we will likely still be able to give them away.
Won’t this just create a lot of trash for the surrounding neighborhoods?
The library works very hard to insure that old worn out materials get discarded during the giveaway reception. We talk to participants to encourage them to dispose of trash at the library. Any new materials that are unwanted can be left on a trading table, and these will either be picked up by other participants or saved for future use by the library.
Still have questions?
Give us a call at 214-670-1769 or email DPLhelpdesk@dallas.gov