The United Way of Greater Milwaukee has partnered with the Milwaukee area Labor Council to host the 21st annual Health & Hygiene Drive.
The drive collects health and hygiene products for two dozen homeless shelters in the Milwaukee area. Items contributed include toothbrushes/paste, hair care products, deodorant, laundry detergent, first aid supplies, diapers, feminine hygiene products, paper products and more.
However, donations for the drive are at an all time low.
“Our agencies haven’t seen any relief in terms of the volume of people seeking services. And one thing we keep hearing from emergency shelter programs is that not only are they helping more people than ever, but that people require shelter for longer periods of time,” said Nicole Angresano, vice president, United Way of Greater Milwaukee. “So in the past when people typically stayed in a shelter for a few days, now they are staying for a few months because they just can’t find jobs and don’t have any relatives or friends to turn to because they are in the same boat.”
As a result, shelters are lower than usual on health and hygiene supplies, which are necessary for people to go out and interview for jobs or get an apartment.
“Most of us take it for granted that we have shampoo, deodorant and toothpaste, said Annie Wacker, AFL-CIO Community Services Liason. “But for so many people, those are luxury items. We need to rally to bring in items in the next week. Our biggest challenge is that people who have given in years past just don’t have the ability this year. So we are really looking for new people to step up and help.”
Items can be dropped off now through June 10 on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:40 p.m. at United Way’s offices at 225 W. Vine St. or Milwaukee Area Labor Council offices at 633 S. Hawley Road. Monetary donations are also accepted and can be mailed to the Labor Council, with checks payable to Labor Community@Work. For more information, please contact Annie Wacker at 414-771-9830 (w) or 414-510-8724 (c).
