Gift donations support children at Austin's House

Staff Reports

Donations of gift cards, cash, food, and calendar sales support children in crisis at Austin's House children's shelter.

Donations of cash or gift cards allow staff at Austin's House to purchase holiday gifts for the children. Suggestions are gift cards to Target, Walmart, or other local stores that carry clothing and toys. Other ideas are gift cards for movie theaters, fast food restaurants, bowling.

Items needed to stock the pantry at Austin's House are Goldfish and other crackers, trail mix, individually packaged snacks, Nutrigrain bars, frozen lean ground beef, frozen chicken, canned fruit in light syrup and canned soup. Also needed is size 6 diapers and baby wipes, paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent, dishwasher detergent, disinfectant wipes and computer paper.

The shelter benefits from sales of a 2011 calendar featuring artwork drawn by children who have stayed at Austin's House. Cost is $15. Call 267-6711 to order calendars, or for donation information.

Austin's House is the only emergency children's shelter in rural Northern Nevada. The children are placed at Austin's House after being removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. These children have no place else to go. Austin's House provides the basic living necessities including proper nutrition, hygiene, rest, nurturing, recreation, companionship, education, and life skills training. Austin's House has cared for more than 150 children since opening in 2007.