Give money: the gift that does the most
Money pays for what no one can drop off: wages, electricity, gas and water, insurance, repairs and the food donations don't cover. It also lets us buy exactly what's running low, at food bank and bulk prices. Giving online is free for the Mission through Zeffy, so all of your gift goes to the work.
Give online (Zeffy) A small monthly gift helps most, because it lets us plan ahead.
By check: The Silver City Gospel Mission, P.O. Box 5198, Silver City, NM 88062, or drop off cash or a check at 111 S. Texas St., Monday-Friday. Why money matters so much right now →
What it takes to run the Mission
Every weekday we serve breakfast and lunch in our soup kitchen, run a food pantry, open our showers and laundry, hold mail for people without an address, hand out clothing, hygiene kits and snack bags, and help people take their next step. We also run Sierra House, a shelter for women and children, which is a home that needs everything any house needs, and an office and building that have to be cleaned, lit, heated and kept up. All of it runs on everyday supplies. Here is what we use, so you can give what fits you best.
Drop off: Monday-Friday, 9:00am-1:00pm, at 111 S. Texas St. (behind Jalisco's Restaurant). Bringing a lot, perishable food or furniture? Call ahead: 575-388-5071. Please bring gifts for Sierra House, our shelter for women and children, to the Mission too; we take them over.
Most needed right now: new socks · toilet paper · cases of bottled water · hygiene kits · canned meat · trash bags · AA batteries · small gift cards for rewards
Print this list for your church bulletin, office or a donation drive.
How the Mission is paid for
We don't charge anyone for anything. Every meal, shower, food box, bed and hour of help is paid for by donations and grants, plus our thrift store, which runs on donated goods. We have no other income.
Every month we pay for staff, food the donations don't cover, electricity, gas, water and trash, insurance, phones and internet, repairs, and keeping Sierra House, our shelter for women and children, running. When the minimum wage and the cost of living go up (groceries, utilities, insurance, gas), our costs go up with them. A business can raise its prices; we can't, and we wouldn't.
That leaves only two ways to keep up: cut services, or grow the giving that pays for them. We don't want to cut a single meal or a single bed. Every item on this list is one less thing we have to buy, and every dollar given goes straight to keeping the doors open. A small monthly gift helps most of all, because it lets us plan ahead.
Food for the soup kitchen and pantry
Sealed and not past its date. Pull-tab cans help people who don't have a can opener.
- Canned meat: tuna, chicken, ham, Spam, chili
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Canned vegetables and fruit
- Canned beans, soups and stews
- Rice, dry beans and pasta
- Pasta sauce and canned tomatoes
- Boxed macaroni and cheese
- Instant potatoes and stuffing
- Cereal and oatmeal
- Pancake mix and syrup
- Shelf-stable milk and powdered milk
- Flour, sugar and cornmeal
- Cooking oil, shortening and cooking spray
- Salt, pepper, spices and seasoning
- Ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise and salad dressing
- Gravy mix and bouillon
- Coffee (lots), creamer and sugar
- Tea and hot cocoa
- Soft and low-salt foods for our senior pantry
- Frozen meat, chicken and ground beef (call first)
- Fresh produce, eggs, bread, butter and cheese (call first)
- Manual can openers
- Reusable grocery bags and boxes for the pantry
Water and drinks
- Cases of bottled water
- Sports and electrolyte drinks
- Juice boxes and juice
- Drink mix packets
- Reusable water bottles
Soup kitchen supplies
We cook for a crowd twice a day, five days a week.
Serving:
- Disposable plates and bowls
- Cups, hot and cold, with lids
- Plastic forks, spoons and knives
- Napkins
- To-go containers with lids
- Food-service gloves
- Hairnets and aprons
- Aluminum foil and plastic wrap
- Sandwich and gallon zip bags
- Coffee filters (large)
- Stir sticks
Cooking and cleanup:
- Large pots and stock pots
- Sheet pans and roasting pans
- Hotel pans (steam table pans)
- Ladles, spatulas, tongs and serving spoons
- Chef's knives and cutting boards
- Mixing bowls and measuring cups
- Food storage containers with lids
- Food labels and markers
- Food thermometers
- Oven mitts and pot holders
- Kitchen towels and dishcloths
- Dish soap and degreaser
- Scrubbers and steel wool
- Food-safe sanitizer and test strips
Snack bags
We hand out bags of food people can carry. Small, sealed, single servings work best.
- Granola and protein bars
- Peanut butter or cheese crackers
- Trail mix and nuts
- Fruit cups and applesauce pouches
- Beef jerky and meat sticks
- Vienna sausages and tuna kits
- Single-serve chips and cookies
- Paper lunch bags
Hygiene kits
Give the items loose, or pack your own kits in gallon zip bags. Travel sizes are perfect. New and unopened only.
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Dental floss
- Deodorant
- Bar soap or body wash
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Combs and brushes
- Razors and shaving cream
- Lotion and lip balm
- Wet wipes and tissues
- Nail clippers
- Pads and tampons
- A new pair of socks in each kit
- Gallon zip bags
Showers and laundry
- Bath towels and washcloths
- Shower shoes and flip-flops
- Laundry detergent
- Dryer sheets
- Bleach and stain remover
- Body wash and shampoo (large bottles)
- Shower curtains and liners
- Laundry baskets
New clothing we hand straight to guests
For these, new is best. Adult sizes, men's and women's.
- Socks (our most-asked-for item)
- Underwear, all sizes
- Bras and sports bras
- T-shirts
- Sweatpants and jeans
- Belts
- Sturdy shoes and work boots
- Rain ponchos
Cold and heat
Winter:
- Warm coats and jackets
- Gloves and beanies
- Scarves
- Thermal underwear
- Wool socks
- Blankets and sleeping bags
- Hand and foot warmers
- Emergency blankets and tarps
Summer:
- Sunscreen
- Hats and sunglasses
- Cooling towels
- Bug spray
Batteries, lights and phones
A working phone is how people get to appointments, jobs and housing.
- AA and AAA batteries
- Flashlights and headlamps
- Phone chargers and cables (USB-C and iPhone)
- Portable power banks
- Prepaid phone minutes
- Backpacks and duffel bags
- Waterproof pouches for ID and papers
- Umbrellas
First aid and foot care
People who walk everywhere need their feet cared for. Please no medicines, opened or prescription.
- Adhesive bandages
- Gauze and medical tape
- Antibiotic ointment
- Moleskin and blister pads
- Foot powder
- Petroleum jelly
- Reading glasses
- First aid kits, small and large
Rewards and incentives
Our guests help us every day: unloading donations, cleaning up after meals, working in the kitchen. And many are working hard on their own lives: getting an ID, keeping appointments, finishing a program, staying sober, starting a job. We thank them with small rewards. A reward says "we see you," and it helps the next step happen.
- Gift cards, $5 to $25: grocery stores, Walmart, gas stations, restaurants and coffee shops
- Bus passes
- Prepaid phone cards and minutes
- Work boots and work gloves
- Backpacks and sleeping bags
- Alarm clocks and watches
- Treats: candy, coffee, snacks
- Nice personal care items
Please hand gift cards to staff at the front desk or mail them to our P.O. Box, rather than leaving them with other donations.
Sierra House, our shelter for women and children
Sierra House is a home for women and their children starting over, including survivors of domestic violence. It needs everything your house needs. For their safety we don't publish where it is; please bring gifts to the Mission and we'll take them over. New or like-new, please.
Bedrooms:
- Twin sheet sets
- Pillows and pillowcases
- Blankets and comforters
- Mattress protectors
- Hangers
- Alarm clocks and lamps
- Storage bins
- Curtains
For the women:
- Pajamas, robes and slippers
- New underwear and bras
- Pads and tampons
- Full-size shampoo, conditioner and body wash
- Hair care, hair ties and brushes
- Makeup and skin care, new
- Journals, books, puzzles and craft supplies
- Clothes for job interviews
For the children:
- Diapers and wipes, all sizes
- Baby formula and baby food (sealed)
- Children's clothing, pajamas and shoes
- Children's toiletries
- School supplies and backpacks
- Books, toys and games
- Crib sheets and kids' bedding
- Birthday and holiday gifts
Kitchen and household:
- Groceries and staples
- Pots, pans and baking dishes
- Dishes, glasses and silverware
- Cooking utensils
- Food storage containers
- Coffee maker and toaster
- Bath towels, hand towels and washcloths
- Bath mats and shower curtains
- Toilet paper, paper towels and tissues
- Laundry detergent and dryer sheets
- Cleaning supplies
- Trash bags
Janitorial supplies
A busy building with public restrooms, showers and a kitchen has to be cleaned every day.
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels
- Facial tissue
- Trash bags: kitchen, 33-gallon and 55-gallon
- Bleach
- Disinfectant wipes and spray
- Toilet bowl cleaner
- Glass cleaner
- All-purpose and floor cleaner
- Degreaser
- Hand soap and hand sanitizer
- Air freshener and odor eliminator
- Sponges and scrub brushes
- Toilet brushes and plungers
- Rubber and disposable gloves
- Mops, mop heads and buckets
- Brooms and dustpans
- Wet floor signs
- Vacuum cleaners and vacuum bags
- Squeegees and microfiber cloths
Building, maintenance and grounds
- LED light bulbs
- 9-volt batteries for smoke alarms
- Furnace and AC filters (call for sizes)
- Fire extinguishers
- Basic tools: hammers, screwdrivers, drills
- Extension cords and power strips
- Duct tape, zip ties and WD-40
- Paint and painting supplies
- Rakes, shovels and a wheelbarrow
- Snow shovels and ice melt
- Garden hoses
- Large trash cans with lids
- Gift cards to hardware stores for repairs
Office and front desk
- Printer and copy paper
- Printer ink and toner (call for our printer models)
- Pens, pencils and markers
- Highlighters and dry-erase markers
- File folders and hanging files
- Binders and sheet protectors
- Envelopes, all sizes
- Postage stamps
- Sticky notes and notepads
- Clipboards
- Staplers, staples and paper clips
- Tape and packing tape
- Labels and name tags
- Wall calendars and planners
- Rubber bands and scissors
- USB drives
- Computer mice, keyboards and headsets
- Surge protectors
- Desk lamps
- Coffee and cups for the break room
Bigger items (please call first)
These make a big difference, but we need to know we have room and a use for them before they arrive: 575-388-5071.
- Laptops and computers (newer than 5 years)
- Printer or copier
- Paper shredder
- Filing cabinets
- Commercial kitchen equipment
- Chest freezer or refrigerator
- Washers and dryers
- Twin beds and mattresses (new)
- Dressers and nightstands
- Folding tables and chairs
- Shelving units
- Hand truck or dolly
Clothing, furniture and household goods for the thrift store
We gladly accept gently used clothing, shoes, furniture, small appliances, home décor, books and household goods for our clothing bank and thrift store. Thrift store sales fund the soup kitchen and food pantry.
When: Monday-Friday, 9:00am-1:00pm, at 111 S. Texas St. (behind Jalisco's Restaurant). For large furniture, please call ahead: 575-388-5071.
Businesses: extra stock, store returns, out-of-date shelf-stable food or unsold clothing? See what we can take and offer it here.
Need a receipt for taxes? The Mission gives you a receipt describing what you gave; you decide its value. Our fair-market value guide is at silvercitygospelmission.org/taxes.
Please don't bring
- Opened or used toiletries
- Home-cooked or home-canned food
- Medicines
- Alcohol
Run a drive
Churches, schools, businesses and clubs: pick one thing from this list and collect it. A sock drive, a water drive, a toilet paper drive, a hygiene kit packing night, or stocking the Sierra House kitchen all make a real difference. Call us at 575-388-5071 and we'll tell you what's lowest this month.
Give money
Can't shop? Give money and we'll buy exactly what's needed, and help cover what no one can donate: wages, utilities, insurance and repairs. Every dollar helps feed someone, clothe someone, and listen to someone. Giving online is free for the Mission through Zeffy, so all of your gift goes to the work. A small monthly gift helps most of all.
Give online (Zeffy)
By check: mail to The Silver City Gospel Mission, P.O. Box 5198, Silver City, NM 88062, or drop off cash or a check at 111 S. Texas St., Monday-Friday.