Green Bay community members came together at Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers, to donate hygiene items for the annual “Help for the Homeless” hygiene drive-through event. Residents and area businesses have donated more than $4.2 million worth of hygiene supplies like laundry detergent, toilet paper and deodorant to 19 area shelters and local crisis programs and those they serve over the past 30 years, and we were happy to join the effort this year.
In many cases, these hygiene products fall lower on the list of importance to those escaping transient lifestyles, crisis or homelessness. Due to the higher cost of hygiene products, many individuals and families are forced to prioritize food and shelter over items like shampoo, toilet paper and garbage bags.
This year, in addition to our donation of $15,000 in hygiene products to the drive, many of our local team members took a hands-on approach and volunteered at the event.
"We are honored to work with Brown County at the ‘Help for the Homeless Hygiene Drive’ - helping to better the lives of families and individuals within our community,” said Howard, Wisc. Store Director Heidi Datema. “In each city we operate in, Meijer makes it imperative to support customers, team members and the greater community. Many of our Meijer team members have the same mentality and offered up their weekends to help volunteer at this event.”
Multiple Howard store team members volunteered their Saturday morning to collect donations at the drive-through event. Team members Diane Hutchinson and Thomas Nejedlo have been longtime residents of the Green Bay area, been employed at the Howard store for nearly 5 years and were proud to be representing our team while serving their community.
“From all of us at the Packers, it’s exciting to be able to host the hygiene drive again this year,” said Amanda Weary, Community Outreach Senior Coordinator of the Green Bay Packers. “We know that none of this product collected will go to waste. Being able to provide hope and dignity through these hygiene items as people go out into the workforce and kids go back to school, is crucial for the wellbeing and success of our community.”
Our team’s commitment to this important cause makes us even more proud to partner with the Green Bay Packers and other area organizations in their efforts to serve our community.