The Toiletries and More Drive helps homeless around the holidays

Mankato, Minn.– Partners for Affordable Housing partners with Freedom Home Care and senior living centers for the Toiletries and More drive.

Partners For Affordable Housing offers emergency shelters such as the Welcome Inn and The Theresa House, as well as transitional and permanent affordable housing options to homeless and at-risk individuals and families.

The Toiletries and More Drive accepts any unused items someone could use but especially hygiene goods.

“What you need every day to get up and ready, toothbrushes, toothpaste, those sorts of items,” said Christine Nessler, owner and community outreach for Freedom Home Care. “Those sorts of items that we might take for granted that somebody in need might be without.”

The need is constant throughout the year but more so in the winter time. While they might not seem as big as a Christmas presents, the donations are appreciated and welcomed by those in need.

“The holidays can be a really depressing and sad time.” said Jen Theneman, executive director at Partners for Affordable Housing,  “Any little gift that people get brightens their spirits and they know that people in the community really care about them.”

Besides hygiene items, you can donate boots, mittens, furniture, silverware, blankets and more. After all the gifts are donated, residents at senior living centers help wrap the items.

“It’s really nice for our residents to have that sense of purpose,” said Amy Liffrig, executive director at New Perspectives Senior Living. “We were part of the gift wrapping last year and so our residents have and want to be able to volunteer. This gave them a great opportunity to do so.”

“I enjoy it. It’s a lot of fun to be able to help people in need,” said Dianne Moore, resident at New Perspectives Senior Living.

Items can be dropped off at Freedom Home Care, Partners for Affordable Housing, New Perspectives Senior Living or Primrose Retirement Community.

–KEYC News 12 by Alex Tejada, November 17, 2918

Watch the KEYC-TV Toiletries and More story