Cold and Flu Season! Donate Tissues and Handkerchiefs

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Ugh! Don’t you hate getting a cold?  I end up using a full box of tissues and then some!  That made me appreciate just how fortunate I was, and how easy it was for my family to purchase more.  But what is it like for the poor, both here in the US, and overseas?  There is a surprisingly important donation need for both tissues and handkerchiefs.

Food Banks, Homeless Shelters, deployed military, local elementary schools, church nurseries, preschools, and yes! even animal rescue centers, all need facial tissues, especially during cold and flu season.  And now with Covid, there is an even greater need.

When I was young (gosh way back in the ’50s!) we used handkerchiefs.  I always remember my dad carrying one.  He would use it for any mishap that I or my siblings would have by soothing our tears or dabbing onto a scrape.  My mother and Aunts would even crochet beautiful lace edgings on their special hankies.

But times have changed, and no one uses handkerchiefs much anymore.  US charities do need facial tissues.  But in third-world countries that receive our donations such as Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, facial tissues are quickly used and discarded.  That adds to their garbage problem, as they often have no trash removal available.

So depending on your charity needs, both tissues and handkerchiefs are wonderful to donate.  Scroll to the bottom of the post to find a list of places that would love to receive them!

Here are the best online sites I found to purchase facial tissues and handkerchiefs:

Handkerchiefs:

I would recommend getting 100% cotton (absorbent), but polyester has their uses as well.

* AMAZON:  I like ordering from Amazon – I have free shipping with prime, but most items ship free at $25+

Here is a plain white pack of 13.  These are large at 16″ square.  It could be fun to embroider if you wanted to make them special!

Here are an 18 PACK and a 20 PACK also at Amazon.

* KOHLS:  Here is a white 9 pack.  (15.5″ square)  I love the tone-on-tone white stripes.

* Perhaps you might like this Blue Plaid 6 pack.   Order ONLINE and have free pick up at the store!  Every month there is a different coupon event – so definitely use the current code (that will show up when you visit their online site.)

*WALMART:  I found this 13 pack in White.  Also a colorful array of blue, red and brown in this 12 pack.

BANDANAS:

Bandanas are also a wonderful choice.  Such great uses for these!  I’ve even wrapped a cold wet bandana around my neck while hiking in 95-degree temps.  But they also could be used as a kerchief or made into a tote, skirt or belt.   Some of these will be cotton but often are 100% polyester.

AMAZON:  Here are 2 different 12-packs of Bandanas

These are 100% cotton:  12 pack

You can pick this polyester Red And Blue Set

Or a Multi-Colored Set  HERE.

DOLLAR TREE has 2 packs of 100% polyester.  Ordering online is often the easiest to find (rather than hunting from store to store) and you can have them shipped (in bulk) to the store for free.

FACIAL TISSUES:

CVS and Walgreens often have great deals with coupons in-store on tissues.  But what if you need to purchase in bulk?

DOLLAR TREE: Purchase online, ship them to your local store and they will have everything waiting for you to pick up FREE.  This saves time hunting for what you need!

Individual small cube boxes are great are here are some from Scottie.

Small personal packs of 10 tissues each are perfect for hygiene kits, homeless blessing bags or military donations.  Here is an 8 pack.

AMAZON also has small personal packs – in bulk.  This is a pack of 120.

Here are some charities that would love donations of tissues and handkerchiefs:

Check with your local food banks, shelters, elementary schools, Church nurseries, and pre-schools.  Tissues run out rather quickly in schools and teachers are stretched to provide so many other supplies.  Deployed troops could use them as well.  Consider slipping a handkerchief into a card for a senior in a nursing home.

• Carolina Wildlife Center (yes! even wildlife rescues need tissues!)
• Include in your Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift
• Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation

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I love finding great deals and crafts to save on our family budget - AND have plenty to share. Join me in finding JOY through the PURPOSE of helping others, and have lots of fun along the way!