How to Share Gift Cards
EMAIL US: Contact our team at info@gracehavenohio.org to learn more or to arrange transfer.
US MAIL: Send them to Gracehaven, P.O. Box 14004 Columbus, OH 43214. Be sure to include your name and address so we can thank you!
“How Can We Help the Teens?”
We hear this question often. One very important way is to donate gift cards. These are very helpful in our work and actually have a variety of uses.
Sometimes teens have specific needs like a bed sheet, diapers or work shoes. If we don’t have donations of these items we can purchase them with a gift card.
The cards are also a great incentive. If a youth follows rules of the group home or graduates from probation we give them a small gift card which is very exciting for them. So you could potentially be donating a “Happy Birthday” or a “Congratulations, you finished the tenth grade” gift.
And they are so important in helping build relationships with the youth. Many important and beneficial conversations have occurred in a restaurant while the teen is enjoying some food with their mentor or case worker.
We’ve found these to be the best gift cards for our needs:
Dining: Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Chick Fil A,
Groceries: Kroger, Meijer’s,
Necessities: Walmart, Target, Five Below
Other: Columbus Metro Parks (to pay for recreational classes for the girls); other fun activities
Showing Love in Tangible Ways
“Judy” had successfully accomplished the goals that she had set with her Gracehaven case manager. She’d also just come home from the hospital with her first baby. Her case manager watched this young lady prepare for months to become a mother, and had listened to her worry about not having all that she needed. Using donated Target gift cards, her case manager gave her items she needed like a nursing pillow and diaper bag. The look of joy on her client’s face spoke volumes. We’re thankful to help this young lady and her new son in such a tangible way.
Donated Gift Cards Help Student's Success
"Sandy" struggled to stay focused in school. She often complained to her Gracehaven case manager that she felt physically tired and lightheaded. They started meeting before school to eat breakfast and talk, thanks to donated McDonalds gift cards. Sandy said the food helped her to feel better and to focus during the day. Says her Case Manager, "I took Sandy to the grocery store, and we used another donated gift card to pick out simple breakfast foods that she could eat in the mornings before school. Her attendance has been increasingly better since then."When Gracehaven donors contribute gift cards to fast food restaurants or grocery stores, they're not just feeding troubled teens for the day -- they're helping to teach them healthy habits and life skills. Gift cards enable important conversations with counselors and in some cases, like Sandy's, can lead to better success in school.
