Helping Mothers at the Most Critical Moment
When a mother or family first enters a shelter, the first 72 hours are often the most uncertain and stressful. During this period, essential personal care items may be scarce, adding to the challenges of adapting to a major life transition.
GFoundation’s Women’s Shelter & Transitional Housing Hygiene Support Program provides an Initial Personal Care Kit along with a handwritten encouragement card at this critical moment, helping mothers feel welcomed, supported, and prepared for the days ahead.
Who We Support and What’s in a Kit
This program serves women and families entering shelters across New York City. Each Initial Personal Care Kit includes:
Personal Care: Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, body lotion
Feminine Care: Menstrual pads, tampons, panty liners, feminine wipes
Wellness & Household Items: Hand sanitizer, tissues, lip balm, cotton swabs, face masks
Encouragement Card: A heartwarming message to welcome and support mothers during their transition
All items are packaged in a reusable hygiene pouch, providing a convenient way to store and carry daily necessities.
Why it matters: Families receiving these kits can meet immediate hygiene needs, maintain dignity, and free up limited household resources to focus on housing, childcare, and other critical aspects of daily life.
Community-Powered Support
The program is made possible through contributions from:
- Individual donors
- Corporate partners
- Community donation drives
- In-kind product donations
- Volunteer kit assembly events
This collaborative process allows GFoundation to assemble kits, include personal encouragement cards, and distribute them efficiently to partner shelters. The kit preparation itself is a community effort, reflecting the collective commitment to supporting families during challenging transitions.
Ongoing Support Beyond Day One
The program does not stop at initial intake. Throughout the year, GFoundation provides:
- Ongoing hygiene kit distributions based on shelter needs
- Seasonal distributions for occasions such as Mother’s Day, back-to-school, Thanksgiving, and Christmas
These efforts ensure continued access to everyday necessities and help alleviate the financial and logistical burdens on shelter operations.
Looking Ahead
GFoundation aims to:
- Expand partnerships with additional shelters and transitional housing programs throughout New York City
- Reach more women and families with Initial Personal Care Kits and ongoing hygiene support
- Strengthen relationships with donors, community groups, and corporate partners
A hygiene kit may contain everyday items, but its impact extends far beyond the products inside. It provides a sense of preparedness, dignity, and stability for mothers and families during a critical moment.
Support a mother today by making a one-time donation or becoming a monthly sponsor, helping women and families navigate transitions with care, confidence, and stability.
Your gift helps women and children in shelters find safety, dignity, and hope.
Together, we can make every shelter a place to begin again.
| Donate to support women’s shelter
- Become a Monthly Donor – Help women and children in shelters rebuild their lives with safety and stability.
- Make a One-Time Gift – Provide essentials and comfort for families seeking refuge today.
- Give In-Kind Donation – Send hygiene kits, baby items, or other daily necessities to shelters in need. [link]
FAQ
Q1. Who is supported by this program?
A1. We support mothers and families who are newly entering women’s shelters, prioritizing households with children when needed.
Q2. What is included in the Initial Personal Care Kit?
A2. Each kit contains essential hygiene and personal care items such as shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, lotion, menstrual pads and tampons, hand sanitizer, tissues, lip balm, cotton swabs, and face masks.
Q3. Which shelters are served?
A3. The program currently supports women’s shelters and transitional housing facilities throughout New York City. We plan to expand to additional locations as the program grows.
Q4. How does the program operate?
A4. GFoundation assembles and distributes the kits using resources provided by individual donors, corporate partners, community donation drives, in-kind product contributions, and volunteer kit assembly events. Kits are then delivered to partner shelters to support incoming residents.
Q5. How can I support this program?
A5. You can contribute through a one-time donation or a monthly recurring gift. Your support directly helps fund kit preparation and distribution, providing essential hygiene items to mothers and families during critical transitions.
