Group Ideas

Do have a youth group, school group or business that is interested in supporting Dégagé? We would love for you to support our ministry through special needs drives, raising funds and volunteering. Below are some additional ideas:

Special Needs Drives

• Kitchen Items: Collect sturdy disposable plates, cups, napkins and forks for our kitchen services. We are also in need of creamer and sugar for our coffeehouse.
• Blankets and Winter Gear: Organize a drive for blankets, sleeping bags, hats and gloves. Dégagé will distribute the items to people that are unable heat their home or who will be sleeping outside during the winter.
• Personal Care Products: Collect personal care items for Dégagé to distribute through our Life Enrichment Center. We can use both travel and full size items. Our current needs include: deodorant, razors, dental care products, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc.
• Food: Help us to keep our pantry shelves stocked with needed items we cannot currently purchase at the Food Bank. Needs include canned fruit and juices, canned meats and tuna fish.
• Laundry Detergent: A donation of laundry detergent will allow us to continue to provide clean sheets and towels for the Open Door as well as enable those who visit the Life Enrichment Center the opportunity to wash their clothes.
• Stamps: Gather stamps for individuals in our Life Enrichment Center to use when mailing important documents and letters.
• Phone Cards: Collect phone cards to be used by individuals searching for employment and housing.
• Backpacks: Backpacks are a huge need for people who live on the street. Often a person is carrying all of their belongings with them in a backpack. Organize a backpack drive to help those in the Heartside community.
• Undie Sunday: Sponsor a drive and collect men's and women's socks, underwear, and t-shirts (size L or XL) with an "Undie Sunday" or "Sock it to 'em" drive!"
• Christmas In a Gift Bag: Assemble Christmas giftbags for members of the Dégagé community. Fill them with personal care products and socks, or go crazy and include things like stamps and note cards, Bibles...be creative! For a complete list, please contact Hollie at (616) 454-1661. This is quite often the only Christmas present our friends at Dégagé will receive.

Fundraising

• Learn how the value of a dollar can be stretched by participating in our Your Change Can Change Hunger Program. The YCCCH campaign encourages individuals to collect change for our ministry to be used at Second Harvest Gleaners. There, Dégagé can purchase food for just $0.15 per lb. Consider designating an offering for this important campaign. Contact Hollie at (616) 454-1661 for more information.
• Join us for our Annual Walk-a-thon, Take It To The Streets. Held every fall, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the Heartside Neighborhood and also support our programs. Visit our Events page for more information.

Volunteering

Contact us for a current list of volunteer opportunities. Possibilities for a group may include serving a meal, leading a bingo game, assisting in a building or maintenance project or hosting a party. You can reach our Volunteer Coordinator, Hollie Wassenaar, at (616) 454-1661 or hollie@degageministries.org.