It started with a baby in need, but the truth is this — community members of any age can benefit if you have extra and can donate to a charitable organization.

Recently, a community member heard a sad story: A mother with a young baby needed help with formula and diapers. She reached out to the Salvation Army, but they were unable to help. That story led to an even bigger truth — charitable organizations in the area are always accepting donations of certain items. For those who have the means, helping others is as simple as purchasing items and dropping them off to the various organizations in the community.

You can make a difference with something as small as a bottle of shampoo or a roll of toilet paper, or you can take that crib you have been meaning to give away to an organization in town that will make sure someone truly in need will be provided with a safe place for their baby to sleep.

Bradford has several charitable organizations, all of which try to keep supplies on hand in case someone in need asks for help.

Below are some of those organizations, with lists of what they accept and try to keep in stock any time of the year.

Bright Alternatives

Bright Alternatives is a non-profit pregnancy resource center that opened in Bradford in 1991. The facility offers education and counseling to those who are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. They assist an average of 100 families in the area each year. Anyone is welcome to contact them for assistance, regardless of race, age, income, nationality, religion or personal circumstances.

The resource center offers an Earn While You Learn program, which provides women with diapers, clothing and toiletries to help new parents who may be financially stressed with a newborn in the home. The program educates the parents about caring for their home, family and themselves.

A part of the program is called Beds for Babies and teaches program participants about safe sleeping habits. Upon completion of the program, the participant receives a new crib and mattress to ensure a safe sleeping environment for the infant in the home.

Bright Alternatives accepts the following donations to help with their programs, since they are not state or federally funded:

• Diapers size 2-5 and wipes;

• New baby clothes, size newborn to 2T; and

• Baby soap, shampoo, lotion, washcloths, baby towels and sleep sacks

Financial support for the Beds for Babies program is also greatly appreciated, as the program can not continue without funds to purchase the cribs and mattresses.

To donate to Bright Alternatives, contact them at 368-3388.

Destinations-Bradford

Destinations helps those in need with various items like hygiene bags, cleaning supply bags, emergency prescriptions, food, medical gas cards and emergency shelter. Located at 1 Main St., the organization just completed its fifth year of service to the community.

The Community Outreach Center also recently opened The Closet Resale Shop at 29 Main St., which sells gently used clothing to those in need. The clothing can be purchased with money, through service performing volunteer work or through supply to those who are referred to by area agencies and found to be in crisis.

Financial donations are always accepted and appreciated to help with emergency prescriptions and emergency shelter. For the supply closet, items the organization accepts include:

• Shampoo, soap, deodorant;

• Toilet paper;

• Toothbrushes and toothpaste; and

• Razors and shaving cream;

The food pantry run by Destinations also accepts donations. Those include:

• Boxed dinners;

• Tuna fish;

• Soup;

• Peanut butter;

• Canned vegetables;

• Non-perishable food items; and

• Canned fruits

If you wish to donate to Destinations-Bradford, contact them at 331-4551. Donations are tax deductible.

The Friendship Table

The mission statement of The Friendship Table states: “We are a group of caring citizens, of faith and goodwill, who wish to share the harvest of our community to feed those in need in a compassionate, understanding atmosphere regardless of race, creed or religion.”

The Friendship Table offers breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. and dinner from 2 to 5 p.m. Meals are well-balanced and nutritional. There are no questions asked of those who come in for a meal. They are also welcome to stay and socialize after the meals are over. There is no state or federal funding received for these efforts. Instead, donations from local businesses and citizens are what keep the doors open.