Home Volunteer Stuff the Shuttle

Stuff the Shuttle

Keeping our pantry stocked with everyday essentials takes a tremendous amount of community support. Hosting a Wish List Drive is a meaningful way to engage your workplace, school, club, congregation, or group of friends while directly supporting transplant patients and caregivers staying at the House.

Stuff the Shuttle Policy & Guidelines

Keeping Gift of Life Howie’s House stocked with everyday essentials takes an incredible amount of community support. From pantry staples and cleaning products to comfort items for families, donated supplies help us create a welcoming home away from home for transplant patients and caregivers traveling to Philadelphia for lifesaving care.

One meaningful way to support the House is by hosting a “Stuff the Shuttle” drive. These community collection events are a fun and impactful way to engage your workplace, school, congregation, club, neighborhood, or group of friends while directly supporting the families we serve.

Your generosity helps ensure that the House remains stocked with the essential items guests rely on each day, allowing us to focus on what matters most: caring for transplant families during a difficult time.

  1. Complete the Stuff-the-Shuttle Request Form below and provide three preferred dates and times for our House Shuttle to visit your location.
  2. Organize a Wish List or food drive collection at your workplace, school, house of worship, neighborhood, or community group.
  3. Rally your group to help “stuff” the Shuttle with the collected donations.
  4. Our staff will transport the donated items back to Gift of Life Howie’s House, where they will be distributed to support transplant patients and caregivers staying at the House.
  5. Please complete the In-Kind Donation Form below so we can provide a receipt for your donation and properly acknowledge your support in our records.
Because our Shuttle is actively used each day to transport transplant patients and caregivers to and from lifesaving care, participation in Stuff the Shuttle events is based on availability and operational needs. To be eligible for Shuttle participation, drives should generally meet the following criteria:
  • The drive is expected to generate a large volume of donations, ideally enough to help fill the Shuttle
  • The collection site is located within approximately 20 miles of Gift of Life Howie’s House (401 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia)
  • The requested date and time do not interfere with guest transportation schedules or medical appointments
If a drive does not meet these criteria, groups are still encouraged to participate by collecting items and delivering them directly to the House. In many cases, we may still be able to arrange a photo opportunity with the Shuttle at Gift of Life Howie’s House, depending on availability. We are deeply grateful for every group that supports our Wish List needs and helps care for transplant families during a difficult time.
Download a customizable Stuff the Shuttle promotional flyer to help spread the word about your drive with coworkers, friends, classmates, or community members. Download your customizable Stuff the Shuttle Promo Flyer HERE.
At Gift of Life Howie’s House, community groups often support transplant families by organizing Wish List Drives. In some cases, these drives may also become part of a Stuff the Shuttle experience. While similar, these opportunities are designed for different types of engagement

Pantry & Food Items

  • Pre-packaged snacks (chips, granola bars, dried fruit, crackers, etc.)
  • Milk
  • Eggs
  • Fresh fruit
  • Frozen vegetables
  • Frozen entrées
  • Individual bottled drinks

Kitchen & Dining Supplies

  • 10–12 oz. disposable coffee cups and lids
  • Napkins
  • Cutting boards (medium and large)
  • Forks, knives, and spoons

Household & Cleaning Supplies

  • Hand soap
  • Bleach
  • Liquid laundry detergent and fabric softener (please no pods)

Personal Care Items

  • Individual hand sanitizers
  • Travel-sized amenities, including:
    • Shampoo
    • Conditioner
    • Body wash
    • Soap
    • Deodorant
    • Other personal care essentials
Gift cards help us quickly purchase high-need items for transplant patients and caregivers staying at the House. Preferred gift cards include:
  • Amazon
  • ACME
  • Target
  • Visa

To help us properly acknowledge and track your generosity, please complete the In-Kind Donation Form if you did not submit one when your items were delivered.

This form should also be completed for donations made through online retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, Target, or other direct-shipping platforms. Completing the form allows us to provide an acknowledgment receipt and maintain accurate records of your support.

Find a web-based version of the In-Kind Donation Form here.

Host a Stuff the Shuttle Event

Start the process of hosting your own fundraiser

  • This will be the primary way we contact you the day of the event.
  • We may need to reach someone the day of the event. Provide a second phone number if the one above may not be available.
  • Please enter a number from 1 to 20.
    Please contact Miranda Porter directly at 267-546-9819 or mporter@giftoflifehowieshouse.org for locations 20 miles or more from the House.
  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
  • :
  • Make sure to check our promotion flyer template!

  • General Policies

    • Gift of Life Howie’s House Development Director must approve any third party fundraising event before contributions can be solicited in the name of GOLHH.
    • A Fundraising Application must be completed, approved and filed with the Development Department no less than 30 days prior to the proposed event.
    • Reoccurring annual events or one-time events require application approval on a pre-event basis.
    • GOLHH reserves the right to deny any application for a special event or fundraising program.
    • GOLHH reserved the right to refuse funds donated from a special event or fundraising program.
    • GOLHH does not provide direct financial support to third-party fundraising.
      • Note, raffles are generally prohibited without prior approval and necessary permits.

    Promotion of Event

    • The event will be promoted and conducted in a manner to avoid statement or appearance of Gift of Life endorsing any product, firm, organization, individual or service.
    • All “Third Party Event” organizers should establish a timetable and action plan prior to the event.
    • A GOLHH staff member can assist in the development of the event and will provide a letter of support to be used to validate the authenticity of the event and its organizers
    • Provide limited existing GOLHH materials for your event, such as brochures
    • Promotional materials and/or advertisements cannot be purchased with GOLHH funds. Any such advertisement should be the result of underwriting or sponsorship related to the event.
    • GOLFH will provide limited support for promotion of the event at the discretion of the Development Manager.
    • GOLHH cannot provide a mailing list for the promotion of a third party event nor will GOLHH solicit funds, services or raffle items for the event.

    Use of Logo

    • The official logo of GOLHH may not be used without the prior written approval of the Development Manager or her designee as it relates to the specific use. This relates to written and electronic materials. If a particular use is approved, the logo may not be altered in typeface, color, configuration and/or position and the logo must adhere to established graphic standards.

    Liability

    • GOLHH is not financially liable for the promotion and/or staging of a “Third Party Event” or any liability relating to the event.
    • Third Party Event organizers will have participants complete a waiver for release from liability if requested by GOLHH.
    • Third Party Event organizers will provide insurance certificates, if required.
    • Third Party Event organizer agrees to assume all such liability and adhere to all applicable laws in the conduct of the event.

    Revenue Generation

    • All promotional materials must follow IRS/state guidelines and clearly state the percentage of proceeds and/or the portion of the ticket price that will benefit GOLHH in compliance with applicable standards.
    • GOLHH cannot endorse any events that are for the benefit of a specific individual.
    • The event leader is responsible for submitting a post event Fundraising Event Follow-up Report
    • In-kind sponsorship is defined as a donation of a product or service, such as printing or silent auction items. The value of in-kind sponsors is not included in your total event revenue, but should be acknowledged in your follow-up report. (A follow-up report can be found at the bottom of this webpage or email info@giftoflifefamilyhouse.org for a copy.)

    Records

    • GOLHH should receive and approve a list of targeted sponsors for the event, before they are approached, to minimize the overlap with other fundraising campaigns underway by the organization.
    • GOLHH should receive a complete accounting of all funds collected and expenses related to the event. GOLHH reserves the right to inspect all event financial records.
    • GOLHH will receive a list of all tangible non-cash contributions or in kind contributions to the event. Organizers may request assistance from a staff member prior to event in advance.
    • Final payments from an event that will benefit GOLHH should be made payable to Gift of Life Howie’s House. Disclosures and Legal Compliance
    • GOLHH is exempt from federal taxation and has been approved by the IRS as a charitable organization as defined by the Internal Revenue Code Section 501 (c)(3).
    • All Third Party Event promotional materials and solicitations must contain the following language: The official registration and financial information of Transplant House d/b/a Gift of Life Howie’s House may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1 (800) 732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
    • By clicking submit you agree to the terms above.