Marshall County Family Resource Network Begins Collection for Holiday Drive
Trending
Although most people are several weeks away from trimming trees and buying holiday gifts, the staff at the Marshall County Family Resource Network is already working to meet hygiene needs for locals of all ages.
The Carolyn Dalzell Closet of Hope, inspired by a longtime board member who lost her battle with cancer in January 2014, has provided hygiene items and gifts to teens and families for over two years.
According to the group's executive director, Stacie Dei, the closet -- which provides toothbrushes, deodorant, feminine products, shampoo and more for distribution at several nonprofits in the area -- will add seniors to the thousands of people it has served since 2014 this holiday season.
Along with the annual teen Christmas gift distribution, to be held the first week of December, the organization will co-sponsor "Adopt a Grandparent," a hygiene supply drive for local nursing home residents led by Moundsville Rotary Club member Sharon Welsch.
Although deadlines for the teen and senior drives will not arrive until December and November, respectively, Dei said donations are accepted year-round and are particularly needed in the next few weeks.
"As soon as Christmas is over, we start thinking about it. As the years have gone on, we've gotten much smarter about the project and when (is) the best time to buy, following sales trends and using coupons," Dei said. "SNAP benefits, or what people refer to as food stamps, don't allow you to purchase any of these items and a lot of times they are very expensive. When I look around the community, not a lot of organizations are able to have a closet like this, so we try to help other organizations with projects. Poor hygiene is a barrier to education and employment."
Local businesses will also partner this year to fill teen gift bags. Beginning Oct. 23, Dollar Tree will hold a collection for personal care items for the holiday drives. During the holiday season, Buffalo Wild Wings of Moundsville will ask patrons to purchase gift cards to place in gift bags Nov. 6-19.
The Marshall County Family Resource Network has also created miniature closets at Cameron and John Marshall high schools, Moundsville Middle School and Central Elementary School, providing deodorant, shower gel, shampoo and more.
Project coordinator Sara Wood said early donations are helpful for holiday gift distribution planning.
"As it gets closer to Christmas items are more expensive, so this is an important time to start," she said. "We want to have several of these done before the holiday season so we can get them to the schools and the schools can then get them out before Christmas break."