They say charity begins at home so whenever possible I give something to Saline Area Social Service (SASS) to help those nearby who need so so much.
While it is important to help starving children in third world countries, it is essential that we don't neglect the ones that live in our area. Many of these families are desperately struggling to earn a living, stay together and survive. Be grateful if you have enough. Share some with others until they can get their lucky break, too.
The downtown Saline office of SASS is crowded and busy with activity. The entrance is near Saline Downtown Diner, at the back of the block including Dan's Tavern. Some staff are there consistently, but you might be talking to a volunteer. They do what they can with what they have. They need donations: money, non-perishable and even perishable food including fruits and vegetables from your own garden, because they have a refrigerator and a freezer. So if you have extra of any type of food, please bring it by.
They collect toiletries. The smaller travel size is preferred, but if you have full-size toiletries, they wait until they have about 120 of any given item and then they do a "distribution." At the end of the year, my church and many others in the area host a toiletries drive and collect shampoo & conditioner, bar soap & body wash, diapers, etc. that every family needs to function.
Each of the churches in Saline including mine put together food baskets and gifts (for example, socks in specific sizes for boy, girl, man or woman) for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. That way, each person contributes just a little to make up a very nice windfall for each local family currently under the care of SASS, which coordinates the distribution of all of these baskets, so it makes giving logistically easier for an individual.
If you wish to do some good, give them a call and stop by with a donation. During the summer months the pantry can get pretty bare so if you are into warehouse shopping, put something extra into your cart, then take it to SASS. read more