UMassFive recently completed its annual Personal Care Items Drive, collecting essential hygiene products throughout June at its Hadley, Northampton, and Springfield (Mercy Medical Center) branches. The drive benefited three vital Western Massachusetts resource hubs: the Amherst Survival Center, the Northampton Survival Center, and The Gray House in Springfield.
UMassFive members and staff came together and collected more than 1,000 essential items including shampoo, toothbrushes, sunscreen, adult briefs, menstrual products, diapers, and other everyday necessities. These items are consistently in high demand at community resource centers and often run short.
UMassFive collected and donated 687 hygiene items to the Amherst Survival Center alone, with additional donations to the Northampton Survival Center and The Gray House. During a visit to the Northampton Survival Center, Development Director, Danielle Brown, noted that personal care items are among the fastest moving and most needed items on their shelves.
“It's easy to overlook items like shampoo, toothpaste, diapers, or deodorant until you can't afford them. These everyday necessities help people stay healthy, go to work, attend school, and care for their families. Seeing our members and employees come together to help meet those needs is a great example of what community looks like,” said Cait Murray, UMassFive’s Community Engagement Manager.
As the cost of everyday necessities continues to rise, community organizations are seeing increased demand for both food and personal care items. UMassFive thanks its members and employees for their generosity and continued support in helping to meet those ongoing needs, and encourages other businesses and community groups to join in and organize similar drives.
