Gemach ideas

Gold Member Joined: Jul 14 2009 Posts: 2094

I've really been wanting to open a gemach in my house & need some ideas. I live in E"Y, in a really frum, young, heavily populated city. It needs to not take up much space, not cost too much to start & not have that much upkeep. (sounds hard huh?) My friend has a nausea bracelet gemach so that's out. I was thinking of getting a really really good burn cream (but dh thinks ppl should go to the Dr., not rely on some miracle cream),extra sheets was nixed, having 1 of each medication was another idea, but there are a bunch of those & ppl just go to their neighbors. My latest idea is having 1 container of each stage of formula in case s/1 runs out & can't get more (it happened to me, so I guess it can happen to s/1 else).

Any other ideas or advice? TIA!

Diamond Member Joined: May 10 2010 Posts: 3036

In my neighborhood,, there's a pacifier and infant tylenol(acamol) gemach in a closet outside s/o's house so you can get it anytime of the day/night. There's also a gan information , games, children's tapes, and a nebulizer gemach.

Platinum Member Joined: Mar 20 2005 Posts: 5270

I love the tape idea. Also books if you don't mind lending out

Posted: Mon, Jun 11 2012, 11:54 am Post subject: re: gemach ideas

when we lived in ramot we had someone with a chair (and folding table) gmach (a bunch of stacked plastic chairs in their machsan or living room) that wa sa life save r for us when we made a party at home.
there was another neighbor who had something to fix a clogged sink drain, that was a major help for us on a friday before guests were about to come and the whole sink clogged up.. yuck..
another person called hers the fax gmach, anyone was able to come use their fax machine!
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Gold Member Joined: Jan 03 2011 Posts: 1503

I know it sounds weird but there's a richs whip gemach in ramat eshkol that people love. She buys a big wholesale tub of whip and measures it into the same size as the containers you buy. She sells them for 3 NIS. I think it's great!
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Silver Member Joined: Feb 14 2010 Posts: 558

formula sounds great! tablecloths are also needed (for kiddushs, small simchas etc.) and dont take up much space, sheitels (my favorite gemach!!!),

Silver Member Joined: Feb 14 2010 Posts: 612

Diapers!!!!
Get 1pkg. of each size, give 2pc. at a time.

Posted: Mon, Jun 11 2012, 1:28 pm Post subject: re: gemach ideas

I have a preemie clothing gemach. It doens't take up much space at all. I am working on expanding it into a breast pump/breast pump supply gemach for new mothers with babies in the NICU (pagia) as well.
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Active Poster Joined: Feb 13 2008 Posts: 70

I just borrowed from a gemach that has center pieces for smachot. It was soooo helpful not to have to buy anything. Vases, plastic flowers, etc.

Gold Member Joined: Nov 24 2009 Posts: 1285

A gemach to give away free wigs for children who have a desease that there hair falls out or never grows or chemo patients. Collect woman's wigs and remove a weft or a few depending on how full it is ( children dont need them as full) Remove the clips n combs and there is a plastic thing that u sew in so that it shouldn't slip off.

G'luck

Posted: Mon, Jun 11 2012, 3:23 pm Post subject: re: gemach ideas

My cousin does a baby g'mach. She has pacifiers, formula, diapers, bottles, wipes, other things that don't take much space. She usually gets people on Friday afternoon / Shabbot who need something. Replace what you take (after Shabbot of course!). She also has a couple of portable cribs someone gave her, and maybe a high chair or bouncy chair, but most people come in needing diapers, wipes, or a certain type of pacifier.
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Posted: Mon, Jun 11 2012, 3:34 pm Post subject: re: gemach ideas

Breastpumps - there are never enough in any gemach.
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Posted: Mon, Jun 11 2012, 3:39 pm Post subject: re: gemach ideas

I have bh a pregnancy and nursing gemach, created to thank Hashem for sending my son. Just starting, but I collect anything that can help and of course lend my own. Pregnancy clothes, nursy clothes, baby clothes a scale, a doppler... if there is any interest I'll complement with toddler clothes, maybe a nursing help group or whatever.

I have heard of wedding gown gemach, anything-weddingy gemach, my shadchan's wife has a crib (I think) gemach.
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Gold Member Joined: Jul 14 2009 Posts: 2094

thanks for all the ideas, keep them coming! when I say no space I mean that literally, we have NO spare space in my appt, not even for a stack of chairs.

Silver Member Joined: May 01 2012 Posts: 634

How about a bris card or chuppah card gemach?
Just have a few printed up and laminated, then people have the tefilos to say at a bris or chuppah.
Very handy... and small!

Posted: Tue, Jun 12 2012, 8:43 am Post subject: re: gemach ideas

In my yishuv there is a family that lends out small amounts of cash, especially useful as there is no ATM here. Something like 100NIs for a week.

We personally made use of the pacifier gemach so I am partial to that one.

I will check the directory later, BH, and get more ideas for things that don't take up space.

Diamond Member Joined: Oct 26 2009 Posts: 2516

If you have a printer/copier, you can have a copy/print/scan gemach. There are lots of people who don't have one and need it at random times when copy stores are closed.
I know of people who do this.

Platinum Member Joined: Jun 30 2009 Posts: 8233

Gold Member Joined: Jul 14 2009 Posts: 2094

I had a chupa card gemach when I was single, the bris card idea is good too! I like the small cash gemach idea, I'll ask dh what he has to say on that one. My friends brother got his bar mitsva benchers delivered after his party, so maybe ppl can use those for a bris or bar mitsva (I've benched by heart & a few too many simchos). I'd love to have a fax machine gemach, we've made use from it, but our machine is under ds's crib & is a big pain to take out each time......keep 'em comin!

Posted: Tue, Jun 12 2012, 1:56 pm Post subject: re: gemach ideas

Yeah my friend also has a small cash gemach - what a life saver! Smile

Also, I don't see why you can't do the burn cream idea. It's like an immediate temporary relief until s/o can actually get to the doctor. I remember on Erev Y"T one year, I burned myself really badly and my dh ran to a neighbor a few buildings down to get some cream to relieve the pain until I got to the doctor. A LIFESAVER!
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