Dignity Drive Aims To Give Hygiene Products To Children In Need

The Dignity Drive is designed to give children in need hygiene products that can make a huge impact. Laurel Nowak, Dignity Drive chair expressed the extent of its importance, “Hygiene is a basic human need and we all know that without proper hygiene, which leads to sickness, missed days at school, and that also leads to bullying at school which leads to mental health issues.” This is uncomfortable can make it difficult to be social, something no child should have to face.

While the lack of these supplies can make such a large impact, they can be inaccessible to those who are suffering from homelessness, in foster care, or are low income. “Can you imagine being a teenager and walking into a home where you are just now meeting the people that live there and they tell you it’s OK to take a shower and you don’t know what the products are in the bathroom or what’s OK for you to use,” said Nowak in regards to children in foster care.

Because of these challenges, the Dignity Drive has begun collecting donations to distribute to those in need at local schools and would eventually like to expand throughout the whole region. They are seeking: boys and girls PJ’s of all sized, boy’s and girl’s toiletry bags, soap/body wash, shampoo, conditioner, tooth brushes, tooth paste, floss, chap stick, shaving cream, boys and girls razors, lotion ,feminine hygiene products, and general make up, and monetary donations. The drive is accepting donations at the office of Star Staffing, located at 537 W. Chisholm Street in Alpena. They are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and are also able to pick up items if needed. The drive goes until February 2^.