DES MOINES, Iowa — WHO 13 Cares and the station teamed up with Vibrant Insurance and United Way of Central Iowa to collect hygiene products for local students. This is a part of the Nexstar station’s Founder’s Day of Caring. 

Friday was drop-off day for the Backpack Boost: Hygiene Edition drive at Kurtz Opportunity Center with Des Moines Public Schools. Volunteers carried in dozens of boxes of backpacks filled with essential items. 

“We are grateful at Des Moines Public Schools to receive the hygiene donation for our students and families. We have 75% of our families qualify for free or reduced lunch, so providing just those basic needs can be challenging,” Jennifer Stalder with DMPS SUCCESS program said. “And receiving these on behalf of our families will help our parents and caregivers have a little less stress having to provide some hygiene items for their student. So, it also will allow our students to come to school ready and feeling like they are refreshed and ready for the day. Being able to have their own toothpaste, toothbrush and deodorant and all of those essentials that so many of us take for granted.”

Over the last two weeks, 951 total items were donated by WHO 13 viewers, which is over $3,000 worth. Vibrant Insurance also made a donation of $5,000.

This week, 288 hygiene kits were assembled by WHO 13 employees. Those kits include items like a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, lotion, lip balm, etc. Plus, hundreds of other additional single hygiene items were dropped off.

United Way of Central Iowa helped facilitate this drive. 

“Costs are rising for everybody, but we see that the cost of the essentials are actually rising higher than the cost of just general goods and services throughout the community. So we know that families really need a little extra help getting those essentials like the hygiene items, because it’s just harder to make ends meet right now,” Erin Davison-Rippey from United Way of Central Iowa said. “And we have a lot of families who need just a little bit of extra support in our community.”

When some of the DMPS employees first saw the items in the kits, there was excitement over just the simple things — items that they know their students will use.

“Oh, seeing socks in their hygiene kits was super exciting. We have students that have to walk to school when it’s cold and when it rains. Having a fresh, warm pair of socks makes a huge difference,” Stalder said. “Knowing that people in our community care about our students as much as we do, is really heartwarming. It helps our students and families know that they belong to a community, that they belong to a community that is going to support them when they need a hand up sometimes.”

These hygiene products are certainly in need. They’re already going to be distributing these kits on Monday. 

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