‘Kits for Kids’ drive gives 1,014 hygiene bags

The Presbyterian Women’s group of First Presbyterian Church and local partners distributed 1,014 hygiene bags to homeless students in Deschutes County.

Through the generous efforts of hundreds of community members and several local partners, these bags will be distributed throughout the school-year to homeless children by the Family Access Network advocates and school district homeless liaisons.

Community partners that contributed to this effort include: First United Methodist of Bend, a Bend RotaryClub,Quota Club of Central Oregon, Abby’s Pizza, Applebee’s, Boys Scout Troop 25, Touchmark at Mt. Bachelor, Sisters Seventh-Day Adventist Church, and many other generous community supporters.

Last school year, there were over 1,400 students identified as homeless within the Deschutes County schools. Local families are not able to purchase hygiene products with food stamps and are often forced to choose between buying food and basic items such as soap with their limited income.

The Kits for Kids project was designed to support families in a concrete way and take a little of the burden off their struggles through homelessness.

The Kits for Kids include laundry soap, toilet paper, paper towels, bar soap, shampoo, tooth brushes, tooth paste, deodorant, and dish soap.

“Kits for Kids is a direct, practical way for members of this countyto help children in need in our schools. By supplying them these very basic hygiene items, they know they are part of a community that cares about them.” said Marilyn Feis and Sandra Croney, Kits for Kids Committee Co-Chairs.

It is within the mission of the Presbyterian Women’s group of First Presbyterian Church to support those in need within Central Oregon and throughout the world. The Presbyterian Women’s group strives to make a difference in the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of children in our community and around the world.