How to donate custom woodwork to a Sailor or Submariner?

[Flyfish1]

Some of you may have seen that one of my hobbies is making small items of furniture. A desk, a nightstand, a sideboard, a bench, etc.. My home can no longer take any more of my creations and although I may be able to sell something I would rather donate it to a family in need. We are rather close to a Naval Sub base and I would love to donate a piece to a Naval family. The catch is how do I do that? Of course I asked ChatGPT and got a few suggestions like go to the Thrift Shop on base and they would take it. Wrong. Thrift Shop will not accept furniture. I know there are some Submariners and Naval Sailors on this site. So looking for a little guidance as to how to do this.

 

[Lewis Clark]

Ask the base Chaplain's office.

Or the base Command Master Chief, who can be found near the base commanding officer's office.

Or the USO lounge, if there is one.

Very generous of you.

 

[JohnnyPHX]

What about a local VA Center? That way staff members and vets and their families would get to enjoy your handy work.

 

[Flyfish1]

Ask the base Chaplain's office.

Or the base Command Master Chief, who can be found near the base commanding officer's office.

Or the USO lounge, if there is one.

Very generous of you.

Thanks - how does a civilian do that? I'm guessing I can't just wander into the base Commander Master Chief's office.

 

[HarveyS]

Maybe donate it to a club, and the club could sell raffle tickets and raise cash for the club needs.

 

[Flyfish1]

Maybe donate it to a club, and the club could sell raffle tickets and raise cash for the club needs.

Yeah I thought about that as well as Habitat for Humanity but I really feel like helping our military living nearby.

 

[Lewis Clark]

Thanks - how does a civilian do that? I'm guessing I can't just wander into the base Commander Master Chief's office.

Call the base operator and get the phone number for the base Command Master Chief's office. Or look for the base phone directory online.

Make initial contact by phone and see how they respond.

 

[ransil]

Find a Navy reunion and donate it them.
I have one scheduled for next month and we do a raffle to offset costs for the association / next reunion.

Draw back is if you are making big stuff , most people fly in and would need to be able to get it back home somehow, current reunion is in Jax so we are about 75% flying in as many live in or near.

 

[Nords]

We are rather close to a Naval Sub base and I would love to donate a piece to a Naval family. The catch is how do I do that?

If you're on Facebook, you could search for buy/sell/free groups on that base (like this one) and share your story.

 

[Jimmie]

I have a naval shipyard local to where I live and a submarine base about 10 miles down the road. The sailors and submariners typically congregate together at local watering holes. They become pretty well known to the employees. Assume you have similar places where you live. If I had something nice to donate, I'd leave my name and phone number, along with a picture of the item, with the manager and ask them to pass info on to a struggling navy family that would appreciate having the item.