Students in the YMCA after-school programs in San Benito County
competed to see which site could collect the most toiletry items to
donate to the San Benito Homeless Coalition, which runs the shelter
on Southside Road.
The students collected items such as toilet paper, toothbrushes,
deodorant, shampoo and more as part of the
”
Trick or Treating for Toiletries
”
service learning project. Each month the site coordinators come
up with a project to help the students learn the tenets of the
YMCA: caring, respect, responsibility and honesty.
”
We want to give them the opportunity to feel they are making a
difference,
”
said Nicole Hartshorn, the child development director.
”
They need to feel a sense of belonging. All kids need to. They
get so much out of it. Their reward is knowing someone else can be
helped.
”
Students in the YMCA after-school programs in San Benito County competed to see which site could collect the most toiletry items to donate to the San Benito Homeless Coalition, which runs the shelter on Southside Road.
The students collected items such as toilet paper, toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo and more as part of the “Trick or Treating for Toiletries” service learning project. Each month the site coordinators come up with a project to help the students learn the tenets of the YMCA: caring, respect, responsibility and honesty.
“We want to give them the opportunity to feel they are making a difference,” said Nicole Hartshorn, the child development director. “They need to feel a sense of belonging. All kids need to. They get so much out of it. Their reward is knowing someone else can be helped.”
The students collected 868 items total.
The homeless shelter opened for the season in November. Parr said the staff members have been allowing clients to shower every other day so items such as shampoo and soap are especially important.
“It’s really important right now because we are running low,” Parr said. “It’s incredible to see the little ones helping.”
Jennifer Bachman, the site coordinator at Sunnyslope School, said the kids were so into the competition, at one site the they wanted to count each individual Band-Aid in a box of 24 toward the total.
“Kids can be used as a resource and adults don’t always see that,” Hartshorn said. “We see a lot of families that are struggling and don’t have a lot, but they are giving.”
Though the “Trick or Treating for Toiletires” is over, Hartshorn and Bachman discussed future projects the students could work on, such as a sock drive or making scarves for the homeless shelter.
Parr said the top needs at the shelter this season are paper products, such as toilet paper, socks and men’s clothing.
“It’s a community effort and it always has been,” Parr said of the shelter.
To donate to the shelter, call Parr at 801-9531 to arrange a pick up or drop items off at the shelter, at 3235 Southside Road.
