Emergency Clean-Up Bucket

Help with Clean-up After Natural Disasters

These supplies will enable people affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton to begin the overwhelming process of cleaning up their homes and communities. Buckets can be sent to our warehouse in New Windsor, MD or dropped off at Church World Service depots around the country. Please click here for a list of drop-off locations by state.

What Goes in an Emergency Clean-Up Bucket?

Please carefully follow instructions below (Download packing list):

Step 1

Purchase a five-gallon bucket with resealable lid (If reused, please scrub clean. Do not use a bucket that has held chemicals of any kind. Brand labels on the outside are acceptable.) All liquids should be in plastic bottles and all items should be new and unopened. Each of the following items should be included inside the bucket:

• Five scouring pads (No stainless steel or pads with soap in them. Remove from packaging.)
• Seven sponges, including one large
• One scrub brush (With or without handle.)
• 18 reusable, lightweight multipurpose cleaning towels (Not paper towels. Remove from packaging.)
• One 16-34oz bottle of liquid dish soap (antibacterial preferred)
• One 12-40oz bottle of liquid concentrate household cleaner that can be mixed with water (No spray bottles.)
• One 50-100 ft clothesline (Cotton or plastic line.)
• Five dust masks (N95 particulate respirator dust masks preferred; No surgical masks.)
• Two pairs of heavy-duty, waterproof dishwashing gloves (Latex-free preferred. Durable for multiple use. Remove from packaging.)
• One pair of heavy-duty, reusable work gloves (Such as Nitrile, cotton with leather palm, or all leather.)
• 20-28 heavy-duty or contractor-type 30-45 gallon trash bags on a roll (Remove from packaging.)

Step 2

Secure each bucket in a separate box (or, on a pallet, if there are sufficient quantities) and download the IOCC Emergency Kits Return Shipping Label to fill out and include on the outside of each one.

Step 3

Kits and buckets can be sent to our warehouse in New Windsor, MD or dropped off at Church World Service depots around the country. Please see the link below for a list of depots by state.

It will cost about $20 per bucket to ship to the warehouse. Mail all kits to:

Click here for our Emergency Kits Frequently-Asked Questions