Giving
Project ECHO, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All contributions are tax-deductible.
Each $30 donation provides a night of food and shelter for a man, woman, or child experiencing homelessness in our community. On behalf of these men, women, and families, we thank you for your generosity!
What Does a Homeless Shelter Need?
Money is unfortunately, always at the top of our needs list. Whether you can give $1 or $100, everything is appreciated. If you would like to make a tax-deductible monetary donation we have several ways for you to do so:
- You can hand deliver a check or cash direct to our door and get a glimpse of all the great things happening at Project ECHO. We’re located at: 484 Main Street, Prince Frederick, MD 20678.
- You can send a check or money order to our mailing address: Project ECHO, P.O. Box 2764, Prince Frederick, MD 20678.
- You can make a donation through PayPal using the Donate button at the top of this page.
- You can donate through GiveButter and elect to cover the transaction fees so that our non-profit organization receives 100% of your donation.
- You can use Venmo to quickly and securely send a donation to Project ECHO, Inc.
- You can make a debit or credit card donation over the phone with our Development Director, Teressa Mullen at 443-684-0987.
- You can shop at our Thrift & Gift Shop where all proceeds benefit our shelter programs. The Thrift Shop can also accept checks, cash, credit card, and mobile app donations.
Meals: The local faith community, civic ministries, and individual families provide the shelter with meals on a rotating schedule. These groups do an amazing job at making sure we have lunches and dinners for our residents, but there’s always room for another designated meal provider. For more information, email us at me***@*********ho.net. Please note: If you are providing a dinner please prepare enough food for 40; if you are providing lunch please prepare enough food for 20.
Groceries: Pantry items, condiments, spices, snacks, and fresh produce are needed in every household, including ours. Please note: we can not accept opened or expired items.
Leftovers: If you’re having a social function and you’re not sure what to do with the leftovers, give us a call at 410-535-0044. As long as your food items have been properly handled and stored at a safe temperature, and as long as we have space for them, we would be happy to take them off your hands.
Catering: You want to feed the homeless, but you can’t prepare a meal for 40 people. Maybe you don’t have the space, the time, or the experience. We’ve partnered with a local caterer who would be honored to provide a delicious and nutritious meal, on your behalf. The Holiday Catering Fund is an opportunity for you to sponsor a fully catered dinner at a deeply discounted rate.
Our most needed items are ALWAYS paper products and cleaning products. Specifically, toilet paper, paper towels, 55-gallon and 13-gallon trash bags, dish soap, laundry soap, and all-purpose cleaners and disinfectants. Our full Wish List can be found here: Shelter Wish List (with links)
Amazon has made it easy to donate and deliver everyday items directly to our door. We thank you for thinking of our household while shopping online for your household.
Amazon Wish List for Project ECHO
They say “time is money” so when we don’t have to pay someone to do something, we save money. Click here to discover how you can make a difference by volunteering your time or services.
Holiday Donation Guidelines
During the busy holiday months of November – January, the following items are the ONLY donations accepted at the shelter:
1. Items that are new with tags or in sealed packages, and homemade goods that can be gifted to our residents.
2. Monetary donations and gift cards.
3. Consumables—We gladly accept prepared meals and holiday party leftovers that have been stored at a safe hot or cold temperature, as well as produce and bakery items that have not expired.
4. Shelter Wish List items such as 55-gallon and 13-gallon trash bags, all-purpose cleaning products, and all manner of paper products. If you use it every day in your house, it’s likely that we use it every day in our house, too.
Preparing for the holidays with a household size of 40+ people requires every available space for collecting, wrapping, and storing gifts for our residents and clients. We thank you for your patience and understanding. Normal donation procedures typically resume by February 1.
Project ECHO Thrift & Gift Shop Donations
All clothing and household items that you wish to donate to Project ECHO can be delivered directly to our thrift shop at 885 Main Street. The Shop has the appropriate space and staff support to receive, sort, and organize these items. We’re just down the street from the shelter, and we have volunteers on-site to accept your donations every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10am to 2pm.
Project ECHO’s Thrift & Gift Shop funds shelter programs and provides our clients with a dignified shopping experience. Our voucher program offers store credit to shelter residents and clients, allowing them to shop for clothing and other necessities without worrying about the cost. We thank you for helping us make this possible!
ALL donated items must be clean, in good condition, and (when applicable) fully functioning.
Drop- off hours are 10am – 2pm on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Donation hours are subject to change based upon space, availability, and extreme weather conditions.
If you have a large quantity of items or want to verify donation hours please call ahead to ensure that we’re able to accept your delivery: 443-975-7376. (We don’t always have someone available to answer the phone, so please be patient with us.)
Acceptable Items:
* All types of clothing, shoes, accessories, and jewelry.
* Small and/or lightweight furniture such as tables, chairs, chests, and desks.
* Household items such as antiques, books, DVD’s, décor, linens, toys, dishes, small kitchen appliances, small electronics, tablets, supplies for school, office, and crafts.
Unacceptable Items:
NO Car seats
NO Cribs manufactured more than 10 years ago
NO Furniture that’s large, heavy, or cushioned, and absolutely NO china cabinets
NO Hazardous or combustible materials
NO Items over 50 lbs
NO Large appliances
NO Mattresses or box springs
NO Medical equipment
NO Printers
NO TV’s
Exceptions may be considered when items are new and in sealed packaging, or directly from a retailer or manufacturer. These exceptions apply (but are not limited) to items such as car seats, furniture, mattresses, printers, and TV’s.
Givebutter
Want to help us make the most of your donation dollars? Process your donation through Givebutter and elect to cover the credit card transaction fee. This way, 100% of your donation goes to its intended purpose. Givebutter is able to offer this service free to nonprofits by collecting tips from donors. The tip jar is a built-in feature, but tipping is entirely optional.
