How & What to Donate

Donations: Collection Bins

MULSA accepts donations for the Central Missouri Food Bank and Columbia Second Chance year-round, in addition to hosting two charity collection drives. During the holiday season, we host a Christmas family (or two) through the Voluntary Action Center. We also accept donations year-round of new and gently used kids’ clothing and supplies for the Rainbow House and the Bluebird Closet (Cole Camp Elementary School).

There are four collection bins located in the Ellis Library staff lounge:

• Three are for the receipt of goods for the Central Missouri Food Bank, Columbia Second Chance, and the Bluebird Closet/Rainbow House. Please do not remove goods from these bins. Donations are collected by designated staff on a daily basis for distribution to these charities.
  
• There is one bin, marked FREE, that can be used by anyone to add or remove giveaway items. Library staff may place items in good condition to be taken to be taken by anyone. (These are items that you don’t want anymore, but someone else might find useful, like the cleaning supplies, personal hygiene products, and other good stuff mentioned above).

For more information about any of these charities, feel free to contact me or visit their websites:

The Central Missouri Food Bank (CMFB), is a regional disaster and hunger relief network that acquires and distributes millions of pounds of donated food annually. CMFB distributes food to people in need through a network of 130 agencies in 31 Missouri counties. CMFB provides free food to soup kitchens, emergency food pantries, shelters for the abused and homeless, programs for low income children and senior citizens, and rehabilitation centers. Needs List.

Columbia Second Chance, is a privately funded, all-volunteer organization dedicated to “seeking first-class homes for second-hand pets”. It is a non-lethal animal shelter, based here in Columbia. Needs List.

The Bluebird Closet, is a program at Cole Camp Elementary School in Cole Camp, MO that provides clothes to rural kids in need. They are a small community of about 1000 people and have limited space and needs, so we give them first choice to accept any donate items. All other donations go to the Rainbow House.
Needs List.

The Rainbow House, is a local emergency shelter for children and a regional Child Advocacy Center. They serve abused and neglected children, as well as families in crises. They shelter children in foster care and assist parents who need placement for their children during a family crisis. Needs List.

The Voluntary Action Center, serves as the agency of first and last resort: providing information and referral to the social services community and providing emergency assistance to families when local programs are unable to meet critical needs.

If you have an idea for a community service project or program that MULSA might be able to sponsor, please contact me, Kathy Peters or 884-8759 or see me in Acquisitions, 52 Ellis Library. Thank you.

Kathy Peters
MULSA Community Service