Washburn Center ensures caregivers have a resource to help kids who are hurting on the inside, and believes a child’s mental health is as important as their physical health. Our compassionate child therapists help children develop the skills to be successful at home, in school and in the community.
As a community mental health center serving more than 65% of children from families with low incomes, charitable contributions play a vital role in Washburn Center’s work by allowing the agency to offer comprehensive support to the children and families.
If you have questions about Washburn Center’s drives, please contact Emily Moses at emily.moses@washburn.org
Washburn Center gathers the following items to help support clients and their families:
School Supplies – Provide children the supplies they need for a successful school year.
- Backpacks (in great demand)
- Lunch boxes
- 2 pencils
- Erasers
- Pencil boxes or zippered pencil cases
- Handheld pencil sharpeners with cover
- Blue or black ink pens
- Glue sticks
- White school glue
- Crayons – 24 pack
- Washable markers (in great demand)
- Colored pencils
- Watercolor paint sets
- Highlighters
- Fiskar scissors (small rounded scissors)
- Pocket folders – with and without prongs
- Wide ruled notebooks
- Wide ruled loose-leaf paper
- College ruled notebooks
- College ruled loose-leaf paper
- Composition notebooks
- Rulers (with inches and centimeters)
- Protractor
- Family size boxes of facial tissue
- Hand Sanitizer
Healthy Snacks – Collect healthy nutritious snacks to help fuel the bodies of young children who are working to restore their mental wellness.
- Fresh fruit such as apples and bananas (non-refrigerated)
- Fruit cups in juice or water (not syrup)
- Fruit Strips
- Baked Apple Chips
- Raisins (individual servings)
- Dried Fruit Snacks
- Instant Oatmeal Packets
- Granola Bars
- Whole Grain Fig Newtons
- Microwave popcorn (a favorite of the children)
Therapeutic Tools – Therapeutic toys and games are tools therapists use to connect with the child, build a bond and help the child talk about their feelings.
- Simple games including: Jenga, Checkers, Candyland, Mancala, Connect 4, etc.
- Art supplies (non-toxic paint, markers, modeling clay, pipe-cleaners, etc.)
- Multicultural books
- Play food, plates, pots, etc.
- Toy doctor kits
- Baby dolls of diverse ethnicities and accessories (bottle, bed, etc.)
- Doll house families of various cultural backgrounds
- Playmobil toys (fire trucks, police cars, ambulances, pirate ships, hospital and schools)
- Small toy cars
- Small drums and other small musical instruments
- Play-Doh
- Small plastic animals (dinosaurs, crocodiles, sharks, domestic animals, wild animals, etc.)
- Puppets and/or stuffed animals (turtles, more aggressive ones like sharks and crocodiles, more gentle ones like mice, puppies, bunnies)
Health and Beauty Supplies
- Family size boxes of facial tissue
- Tooth paste
- Tooth brush
- Soap
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Lotion
- Deodorant
- Diapers
- Gift cards to retail stores such as Target or Walmart and Grocery stores etc.