The Foundation’s First School Hygiene Drive Was a Great Success!

Did you know that many children living in underserved areas can’t afford common personal hygiene products? This makes them an easy target for bullying and can lead to depression and anxiety.

To help young people cope with these challenges, this fall, the FedChoice Charitable Foundation (FCF) together with FedChoice Federal Credit Union partnered with Cora L. Rice Elementary School (CLRES) and G. James Gholson Middle School (GJGMS) and launched our very first School Hygiene Drive.

Ms. Michelle Hibbert, Community Liaison at CLRES, and Ms. Liticia Hubbard, Community Liaison at GJGMS, shared how these two schools are coping with these growing challenges and shared how we can better help students.

“With so many barriers that our students face, a simple hygiene package can definitely boost self-esteem and decrease chances of a student being bullied,” said Ms. Hibbert.“

Our schools have partnered with Hygiene Project to help provide personal hygiene products to our students, but even this is not enough,” shared Ms. Hubbard. “We have assigned closets located at our schools which provide students with direct access and allow them to receive the basic essentials that many may not have access to. Yet, every other week, our hygiene supply closet is completely emptied. The need is so strong, and the kids are super grateful for our support. But we definitely need more supplies, like deodorants, soap, and hygiene wipes.”

The Foundation’s Board and FedChoice FCU’s Human Resources team unanimously agreed that we should take action to help students in our community in this tangible way. As a result, FedChoice staff and foundation supporters donated a total of $1,400, as well as numerous personal hygiene products to fill the school closets!

This week, we delivered the check and the supplies to both schools, and everyone was enormously grateful for this donation.

In thanking FedChoice staff members, Sandra Park, CCUE, FCF Vice Chair, commented, “Although what we delivered today was physical money, shampoos, toothpaste, and toothbrushes, they represent something much more than that! They represent care, support, kindness, and hope. Thank you for your generosity and for making a difference in these kids’ lives!”

If you’d still like to donate to FCF’s School Hygiene Supply Drive, please use this link: https://lnkd.in/ecPSQguV and select School Hygiene Supply Drive. Let’s continue to help our community, one step at a time!