One hundred area businesses, organizations, churches and schools will collect personal care, cleaning and hygiene items through March 13. The 2016 Help For The Homeless Drive provides five local agencies with a year’s worth of necessities for the clients each serves. Necessities like toothpaste, deodorant, toilet paper, facial tissue, shampoo, facial soap, diapers, wipes , feminine hygiene products or laundry soap are not covered by Food Stamps. Fond du Lac County does not have a consistently stocked outlet for supplying households in need with personal care, hygiene and cleaning supplies a recent survey conducted by The Salvation Army of Fond du Lac found. When individuals go without or improvise, it puts their health and safety at risk and strips away their dignity. “”We have seen tears when pantry clients see a roll of toilet paper for them on our shelves; when a mother is able to get feminine hygiene pads for her daughter; when parents pick up soap and shampoo so their kids can be clean and not get picked on for smelling in school.” Ron Jacobson, Salvation Army Social Service Director shares. The Beacon House, ADVOCAP, The Solutions (Homeless Shelter) Center, and New Beginnings Pregnancy Center join The Salvation Army as organizers and recipients of this year’s collection. “The Salvation Army alone needs 96,000 care and cleaning items to supply their clients for the year,” Kayla Meyer, who oversees this year’s Fond du Lac campaign shares. “There are four other agencies with needs just as critical. Every contribution helps and is appreciated.”
