Donations needed for ‘Care for Kids & Families’ drive

Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA)’s Good Buy Thrift Stores are offering customers an opportunity to donate to local children and families in need and get something back at the same time.


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Donations needed for ‘Care for Kids & Families’ drive BELLOWS FALLS — Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA)’s Good Buy Thrift Stores are offering customers an opportunity to donate to local children and families in need and get something back at the same time. From Thursday, Feb. 1 through March 31, anyone who donates personal care items to SEVCA’s “Care for Kids & Families” Collection Drive will receive 10 percent off any purchase at Good Buy Stores. Diapers, baby formula, shampoo and toothpaste are some of the items urgently needed by local homeless shelters and food shelves. SEVCA was established in 1965 as part of the national war on poverty and has worked to address the needs of low-income residents of Windham and Windsor counties. “The Good Buy Stores already provide a service to our communities by offering low-cost clothing, furniture and household goods (and free clothing and furniture for families in crisis), but we wanted to do more,” said Darline Rhoades, SEVCA’s thrift stores director. “A lot of people think about donating food but it turns out that one of the biggest unmet needs in our area is actually for baby care and personal care products.” Items collected will be distributed through the Upper Valley Haven in White River Junction, Our Place Drop-in Center in Bellows Falls and the Springfield Family Center. These organizations offer groceries, meals and shelter to hundreds of families in crisis every month but often come up short when it comes to providing the personal care essentials most people take for granted. Samantha Lane, administrative coordinator for the Springfield Family Center, said that many area organizations are experiencing an uptick in people seeking help. They operate a day shelter for the homeless with showers, daily meal, and a food shelf, among other services. Lane said that in December, 482 households — 624 people — utilized the food shelf, 586 people received daily meals and 68 people used the day shelter showers. Personal hygiene products are in high demand. “If these products are available through the food shelf, they go in a matter of minutes … these are the items we struggle the most to provide,” Lane said, adding that many donors focus on food. “Most people don’t think about donating personal hygiene products. They don’t realize how badly we need them.” Jennifer Fontaine, director of operations at the Upper Valley Haven, said that personal care items are in high demand among their clients as well. The Haven serves 1,200 to 1,300 people per month at its food shelf, up to 38 in its regular and seasonal shelters and eight families in its family shelter on any given night. “We don’t have the money to spend on these items, but there’s a huge need,” she said. “People can’t take care of themselves without things like toothpaste or shampoo; plus, a lot of these items, like diapers and tampons, are really expensive. These are things that people can’t use their 3SquaresVT benefits to purchase.” Items needed for the Care for Kids & Families Collection Drive include disposable diapers (especially sizes 3, 4 and 5), baby wipes, infant formula, baby lotion and powder, shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste and toothbrushes, deodorant, soap, feminine products, tissues (Kleenex) and toilet paper. Good Buy Store locations in Springfield, White River Junction and Bellows Falls are accepting donations. Customers can shop when they drop off their contribution or use their 10 percent discount during a future visit. For more information, visit www.sevca.org/thrift-stores/locations or call (800) 464-9951.