Welcome to Phoenix, HomeAid!

11/14/201911/14/2019Leave a comment

While many are focusing on the excitement of Thanksgiving and other upcoming holidays, there are Americans wondering where they will sleep or eat their next meal. November is Homelessness Awareness Month and at DollarDays we are always looking to better serve more people. That is why we recently welcomed the executive director of HomeAid Phoenix, Sam Levyas, to our office.

HomeAid’s goal is to “provide safe, stable, dignified housing and the supports needed to get individuals and families back on their feet.” As of 2017, 27% of the homeless population in Arizona is comprised of families with children. In 2018, homelessness grew by 10.3%, which was the 5th largest increase in the country.

HomeAid is collecting socks and blankets from November 13th through December 11th as they are the most needed items for those experiencing homelessness in the winter months. To kick off their new presence in Phoenix, DollarDays will be donating 360 pairs of socks and encourage others to donate as well.

To donate to HomeAid Phoenix’s Wishlist, click here. To learn more about HomeAid Phoenix visit http://homeaidphoenix.org/

Sources: Homeless Annual Report 2017, The AZ Central

Better than an Apple

11/14/201911/14/2019Leave a comment

As teachers and students head into the second half of the year, they are in desperate need of school supplies. Many start off the year at already low levels, and after half a year of wear and tear, need a replenishment of essentials. Amarillo Downtown Kiwanis Chapter’s school and hygiene supply stuffing project focused on providing hope to children living in difficult places.

Traci Rogers, the Executive Director of No Boundaries International and a member of the Amarillo Downtown Kiwanis chapter, explains, “The amazing part for us is that as we’ve had the chance to receive feedback from the children – For example, ‘I got my OWN toothbrush’ or ‘Now I can color because I got crayons’ or ‘I get to wash my hair tonight because I got shampoo!!’. What an impact that has had on our team.” She added, “Through this project students recognize that there are people that believe in them and see the worth in them.”

DollarDays is ready to service all of your backpack, pencils, pens, markers, paper and hygiene needs. Let’s rally around our students and help with all their classroom necessities.

To learn more about Kiwanis, visit: https://www.kiwanis.org/

California Needs Our Help

11/14/2019Leave a comment

With seventeen wildfires actively burning, 94,000+ acres burned and more than 1,000,000 people without power over the weekend, California needs our help more than ever. Caused by historic winds, dry fuel and drought, containing the fires throughout the state is looking to be a near-impossible task. In Sonoma County alone, more than 200,000 residents have been displaced from their homes.
Many of our nonprofit partners are rushing to aid those displaced. It is our goal to get the right goods to those who need it most during all stages of a disaster.

Current critically needed items by Californians include:

How you can help:

Contact your local nonprofit: Find out what initiatives local nonprofits are taking to help California, and donate the products they need most.

Donate: Whether it’s a monetary or product donation, firefighters, relief workers and victims will all need aid to rebuild and recover from the damage caused. Even the smallest donation makes a difference.

Volunteer: If you are near an area affected by these fires, contact local shelters and find out if they need an extra pair of hands to assist with shelter operations.

Thank you,

Sources: CNN, Good360, OES News

Back-to-School Success

11/13/201911/14/2019Leave a comment

Remember your first day of school following summer break? Fresh haircut, new clothes and shoes, and of course… the best part of ending summer break: shopping for new school supplies to put in your new backpack!

Well, you helped make that possible for CASA youth this season with your generous donations! VOICES thanks every individual and organization who contributed to this season’s Back-to-School Drive ~ there were so many of you who took it to heart! Thanks to you, more than 200 CASA youth received a boost of confidence to start the year off right! Many of the CASA youth were able to receive their new items on the field of the Arizona Cardinals stadium!

(Photo: above left – Kappa Alpha Theta & Dollar Days donated a mound of supplies; above right – the “Community Committee” at Westin Kierland Resort worked with the entire resort staff to purchase brand new backpacks filled with lots of supplies!)

To learn more about Voices for Casa Children, visit: https://voicesforcasachildren.org/

10 Essential Items for Hurricane Preparedness

11/13/201912/20/2019Leave a comment

For many people, Hurricane Season is a worrisome time that requires proper preparation. Creating a basic emergency kit is a great way to make sure you and your family have the right essentials when disaster strikes. We’ve put together a list of 10 essential items for hurricane preparedness to pack in your emergency kit:

1. Food

Sometimes the most obvious choice is the right one. It’s always great to have a full supply of non-perishable food items in the case of an evacuation.
Shop non-perishable food here.

2. Flashlights

It’s hard to know, exactly, what damages a storm will cause, so it’s important to have a good flashlight in case the power goes out.

Shop flashlights here.

3. Batteries

Losing power is always a concern during a hurricane. Extra batteries allow you to maintain some form of power and communication.

Shop batteries here.

4. Multi-Tools

A hurricane can cause a wide variety of issues for you and your home. Having a compact, multi-purpose tool can be incredibly helpful for a variety of tasks.

Shop tools here.

5. First-aid Kits

During a storm, access to medical care could be limited. Having a first-aid kit/medical supplies is essential for survival.

Shop first-aid here.

6. Hygiene Items

Having personal hygiene items can prevent disease, as well as supplement hygienic needs for those who have been displaced from their homes.

Shop hygiene kits here.

7. Cell Phone Chargers

If you have access to a power source, keeping your phone charged is important so you can maintain contact with family and emergency services.

Shop cell phone accessories here.

8. Blankets

Blankets are a versatile and necessary piece of any emergency kit. Shop blankets for every family member, including fleece blankets, baby and pet-sized blankets and survival blankets.

Shop blankets here.

9. Toys & Games

Keeping the family entertained and distracted provides peace of mind and a level of normalcy during a difficult time. Explore children and adult coloring books, board games, toys and activities.

Shop toys and activities here.

10. Personal documents

Hurricanes can completely upend one’s life. Having copies of your important, personal documents stored safely, can make all the difference when rebuilding.

Shop file organizers here.

DollarDays works closely with many national and local disaster-relief organizations and is proud to offer these critically needed items to those who need it most.

Visit our full range of disaster care items here.

Arizona Sees Increase in Classroom Spending for Second Year in a Row

03/20/201903/22/2019Leave a comment

For the second year in a row, Arizona saw an increase in classroom spending, according to the Arizona Auditor General’s annual audit.

Arizona school districts spent 54% of their available operating dollars on classroom instruction, making 2018 the second consecutive year to increase classroom spending. Since monitoring began in 2001, the highest level spent on instructional spending was in 2004 at 58.6%. Since this peak, classroom spending has declined by 4.6%.

From 2017 to 2018, Arizona school districts increased their operational spending by $119 million, with $82 million of the increase spent on classroom instruction. The state’s average teacher salary also increased from $48,372 to $48,951.

[D]despite the progress, Arizona school districts still fall behind the national average. Schools statewide spent about $3,500 less per student than the national average. Arizona school districts also received a greater percentage of revenue from federal sources and a smaller percentage from state and local sources when compared to national averages.

Original article here: https://www.azfamily.com/news/arizona-sees-increase-in-classroom-spending-for-second-year-in/article_17686812-4b75-11e9-b1de-67a0b7eb8a19.html

Good360 Announces Clinton Global Initiative Commitment

01/29/201902/22/2019Leave a comment

Good360, the global leader in product philanthropy and purposeful giving, is pleased to announce it has launched a Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Commitment to Action called “Optimizing Corporate Disaster Giving and Engagement.” CGI, an initiative of the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, convenes global leaders to create and implement innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

At the third CGI Action Network Meeting on Post-disaster Recovery, hosted in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Good360 announced its commitment to spearheading an actionable mission around thoughtful giving during disasters by educating responsible business leaders at a number of Fortune 500 companies on adopting a proactive, needs-based, resilient, transparent and long-term approach to disaster giving.

In 2018, Good360’s Disaster Recovery Council collaborated with both nonprofit and corporate partners to launch the Resilient Response Initiative, which encourages companies to embrace and embody best practices in disaster giving. This CGI Commitment to Action builds upon that foundation and provides Good360 and its partners with a platform for meaningful action and impact.

“Good360 maintains an unwavering commitment to holistic, long-term disaster recovery practices,” said Howard Sherman, CEO of Good360. “This Commitment to Action allows us to expand upon our work at a critical point while the frequency and intensity of natural disasters are on the rise and while many impacted communities continue to face daunting paths to recovery. The impact of stronger, more informed disaster-giving practices means an acceleration of the recovery curve, building resilience for the future, and the true transformation of communities.”

Good360’s commitment addresses several important and interconnected issues in the disaster-recovery field. There is significant misalignment between how and when corporations give compared to the full disaster-recovery curve. The majority of giving often occurs in the immediate wake of the disaster event itself, leaving long-term recovery efforts without sufficient resources. Further, if in-kind donations are not based on actual on-the-ground needs, they can often hamper and complicate recovery efforts.

This commitment also leverages important existing cross-sector collaboration, spearheaded by the members of Good360’s Disaster Recovery Council, including The UPS Foundation, United Airlines, CVS Health, Ecolab, RH (Restoration Hardware), Wrangler, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and DollarDays, as well as nonprofit All Hands and Hearts.

“We are holding the Clinton Global Initiative’s Action Network on Post-disaster Recovery in San Juan to help Puerto Rico and the Caribbean continue to build back stronger after the devastating hurricane season of 2017. Our work is grounded in the idea that everyone has a responsibility to do what they can to help people in need,” said Kevin Thurm, CEO of the Clinton Foundation. “Good360’s Commitment to Action encourages best practices in disaster giving and is a wonderful example of leaders stepping up and working in partnership to make their contributions more powerful. We are grateful to Good360 and its partners […] for coming together to expand their impact and lay the foundation for a more resilient future.”

The commitment details can be found here: https://www.clintonfoundation.org/clinton-global-initiative/commitment/optimizing-corporate-disaster-giving-engagement

Original article here: https://good360.org/press-releases/press-release-good360-announces-clinton-global-initiative-commitment/

About DollarDays
Founded in 2001, DollarDays is the leading supplier of wholesale goods for nonprofits, businesses and betterment organizations. By sourcing affordable products, backed by exceptional service and meaningful community engagement, we strive to inspire and empower our customers to accomplish their missions to improve the lives of people around the world. Recognized as the City of Phoenix Mayor’s Office “2018 Product Exporter of the Year” and Internet Retailer Magazine’s “B2B E-commerce Marketer of the Year” for 2016 and 2017, DollarDays is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, visit www.dollardays.com.

About Good360
Good360’s mission is to transform lives by providing hope, dignity and a sense of renewed possibility to individuals, families and communities impacted by disasters or other challenging life circumstances who, without us, would struggle to find that hope. As the global leader in product philanthropy and purposeful giving, we partner with socially responsible companies to source highly needed goods and distribute them through our network of diverse nonprofits that support people in need. Good360 has distributed more than $9 billion in donated goods around the world, helping its network of more than 75,000 prequalified nonprofits strengthen communities and improve the lives of millions. Good360 is proud to partner with corporate donors such as Walmart, UPS, CVS Health Foundation, Amazon, Advance Auto Parts, RH (Restoration Hardware), American Eagle Outfitters, Tempur Sealy International, Mattel, Gap, Inc., Eddie Bauer, Levi Strauss & Company, and JPMorganChase. Good360 is a registered 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at https://www.good360.org.

About the CGI Action Network on Post-disaster Recovery
The CGI Action Network on Post-disaster Recovery convenes leaders from business, government and civil society to make commitments to action that will help communities in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Dominica, and Antigua and Barbuda recover from the devastating 2017 hurricane season and rebuild in a sustainable way. The CGI Action Network, along with Clinton Global Initiative University, follows the success of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) and its commitment-to-action model. Over the years, CGI and its successors have brought together leaders from across sectors to improve the lives of more than 430 million people in 180 countries worldwide.

Youth Programs Give Children Hope Through Art

12/17/201804/09/2020Leave a comment

Youth Development and Capacity Building, Inc., located in Atlanta, Ga., serves the disadvantaged youth and communities through education and development. We host numerous youth educational initiatives throughout the year to develop positive minds and a clear future for our youth and community. By consistently adding programs, initiatives and projects that focus on our youth’s education and literary development, we help them strive for a better future. We also balance their health and nutritional values with an educational guide on healthy eating and portion control. We partner with state and local government agencies, community-based organizations, civic groups, higher learning institutions, and more to achieve our goals.

Thanks to DollarDays, we received school supplies, art supplies, office supplies and more. Some of the items helped the survivors of the tornado that hit Louisville, Miss., and the floods in the Georgia district. The school supplies and other items helped to tackle the sadness experienced by these children after the disaster by shifting the focus from the tragedy to a hopeful path forward.

One of our high school students in Louisville, Miss., received some of the items and explained that they helped expand her reading abilities. Also, our Volunteer Youth Director, Jean Harper, visibly displayed the art and school supplies in order to help with reading and learning strategies for the students. After we distributed the goods to students in need, we used the rest of the items for youth camps like the one in Brandywine, Md., (Zou Camp) that really needed new school and art supplies over the years for their programs.

Thank you, Good360 and DollarDays, for helping us improve the future of children throughout the nation.

Original article here: https://good360.org/impact-stories/youth-programs-give-children-hope-through-art/

DollarDays, HomeAid America Announce National Partnership

12/11/201802/22/2019Leave a comment

DollarDays and HomeAid America today announced a national partnership that will help grow HomeAid’s community outreach program to serve more people facing homelessness. As part of the partnership, DollarDays will develop a dedicated online wholesale marketplace where HomeAid chapters across the country can purchase a variety of high-value products to support their outreach campaigns.

HomeAid America is the leading national nonprofit provider of housing for today’s homeless. The organization builds and renovates multiunit homes for America’s temporarily homeless while they rebuild their lives. In addition, HomeAid identifies charities working to end homelessness and collaborates with the building industry to provide extra or upgraded facilities in which to house people.

“HomeAid’s community outreach helps to offset everyday living expenses by providing basic necessities such as clothing and hygiene items to those in need,” said Peter Simons, CEO of HomeAid America. “Since 2014, HomeAid has distributed nearly 10 million essential items to families in need, including diapers and wipes, backpacks, clothing, housewares, and school supplies. DollarDays’ partnership will allow us to better support individuals and families who need help to regain self-sufficiency and get back on their feet.”

“Much of the homeless population HomeAid is working with are families and children,” said Shelly Chaney, Vice President and General Manager for DollarDays. “At DollarDays, our products and services tightly align with organizations that service youth. We welcome the opportunity to partner with HomeAid and extend the good that its chapters do every day.”

About HomeAid
HomeAid, founded in Southern California in 1989, is a nonprofit provider of housing and resources for the homeless that operates through a network of 18 chapters nationwide. HomeAid has completed over 550 housing projects with a value of more than $230 million, of which nearly 50 percent was donated by the building industry. HomeAid has added over 10,000 beds that have housed over 325,000 previously homeless individuals. For more information visit www.homeaid.org.

DollarDays’ Nonprofit Purchasing Index Reports Top 10 Most-wanted Items for the Holiday Season

11/27/201806/23/2021Leave a comment

DollarDays today released its first Nonprofit Purchasing Index (NPI), which reveals nonprofits’ top 10 most-wanted goods for the holiday season. Based on nearly 12 years of purchasing data, the NPI highlights the products most frequently purchased from DollarDays by the company’s nonprofit partners. Since 2007, DollarDays has processed more than 141,000 orders with over 56 million products for nonprofit organizations.

This year, the most-ordered products on the NPI are personal care items, which include soap, deodorant, lotions and oral care essentials. DollarDays has sold more than 22 million personal care items to nonprofit organizations since starting to aggregate its purchasing data. This category represents nearly 22% of all nonprofit orders for the holiday season and 40% of total units sold.

“Personal care items are used by organizations across the country because they’re critically needed by so many, allowing them to focus on their core missions while saving time and money,” said Shelly Chaney, Vice President and General Manager of DollarDays. “The items also provide basic necessities that meet a variety of needs for homeless shelters, people who have been forced to leave their homes because of a natural disaster, or for basic personal care needs. When nonprofits buy from DollarDays, they can be assured they’re purchasing quality products.”

Rounding out the top five on the NPI are holiday-themed items (15%), such as gift-wrapping supplies, decorations and books; toys and games (14.7%); winter accessories (12.6%); and clothing (7.4%).

Chaney added, “Nonprofit soften get unwrapped donations and have holiday-themed celebrations. DollarDays offers inexpensive gift-wrapping supplies and decorations to make sure they can provide wrapped gifts and affordable celebrations during the season.”

No. 3 on the NPI is toys and games. DollarDays is a wholesale toys destination, selling 8.2 million toys to nonprofits since 2007. Recently, DollarDays partnered with the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots Program to provide personal assistance for more than 800 Toys for Tots Coordinators across the country. DollarDays’ 2018 holiday toy catalog also gives organizations like Toys for Tots convenient access to the right toys for kids of all ages.

The complete list of the top 10 most-wanted products for nonprofits based on DollarDays’ NPI is as follows:

Personal Care
Holiday & Party Supplies
Toys & Games
Winter Accessories
Clothing
Socks
Food
Blankets
Baby Care
Hygiene Kits

“Our partners such as United Way, Salvation Army, Good360, Catholic Charities and Rotary receive a high volume of product donations leading up to the holidays. In some cases, the contributions don’t meet all of their needs, so they use donation dollars to purchase items that fill the gaps,” explained Chaney. “This is where DollarDays comes in. We provide a wide variety of affordable products that help our partners stretch their dollars so they can help as many people as possible.”

As a leading supplier of wholesale goods for the past 18 years, DollarDays has collected a significant amount of data that the company shares with its partners and uses to improve its own operations. This information helps DollarDays’ customers track their spending habits, refine their processes, monitor cost savings, identify new opportunities and maximize their donation dollars. DollarDays also plans to use its extensive data resources to publish a variety of procurement reports.

“Selling products is only part of who we are,” said Chaney. “We’ve collected a wealth of data over the years, which our nonprofit partners use to help extract trends down to the product and regional levels. We share this information in an easy-to-understand and visual way so if our partners have questions, they can quickly find answers and discover new ways to assess their projects and achieve their missions.”

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