Hygiene Kits for Kids
In every school backpack handed out during YLM’s annual School Supplies Distribution, tucked in along with notebooks and crayons, kids will find a gallon size Ziploc bag carefully packed with hygiene items, which are very much needed and appreciated.
“Many times, children lack these basic items for their hygiene need because parents are struggling to stretch out paychecks far enough to cover rent, utilities, food, healthcare and other financial obligations,” Elvira Viramontes, Project Director at YLM, shared as items were organized for the upcoming distribution of backpacks and hygiene kits to take place August 27th. “The different school districts in El Paso alone -we have three of them surrounding YLM -sort of dictates when we do our distributions. So we have a goal to have donations sent in by August 3rd, that way we have time to prepare the kits to include in the backpacks. We, of course, will continue to take donations after that day, so we can put together kits for the backpacks to be taken to the children across the border.”
Putting together hygiene kits would be a simple and rewarding service project for schools, church and youth groups, even families. It’s a wonderful witness to God’s care and love for the most vulnerable –children. Marisa De Santiago, one of our long-term volunteers at YLM, demonstrated how the gallon size Ziploc bags are carefully packed full, not only with hygiene items such as shampoo and conditioner, soap or body wash, lotion, toothpaste and toothbrush, comb, travel size hand sanitizer, tissues and wet wipes, but also included are a washcloth, child-size t-shirt, underwear and a pair of socks.
“Although majority of these kits are placed inside backpacks for kids,” Elvira explained the purpose behind the hygiene kits, “They are meant to be an assistance for the child’s family. We will gratefully take pre-made kits with travel size items, but it would be very helpful to many families if full-size items such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion and toothpaste were also donated.”
What a great way to change a life through such a simple act of kindness!
If you want to put together an Action Team through Thrivent, or you want to organize a team of friends and family to do a service project this summer, then this is the perfect project where a huge difference will be made.
For any questions or more information, we would be happy to help at (915) 858-2588 or you can e-mail YLM’s Program Director, Elvira Viramontes at elvira.viramontes@ylm.org
Thank you for living so generously by putting love into the action of kindness!
