By Rapids City Times staff

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The Family’s Help for the Homeless hygiene drive works with area homeless coalitions each spring to stock the shelves of 83 homeless and crisis programs in 15 Wisconsin communities. This year’s drive will run Feb. 17 through March 10.

Help for the Homeless is a collection drive for hygiene and cleaning products – items not available to residents participating in Food Share programs. The goal is to provide participating agencies – including agencies in Wisconsin Rapids and Marshfield – with a year’s worth of products.

Urgent items requested include: cleaning supplies – laundry soap, dish soap, garbage bags, floor cleaner, and disinfectant cleaner; hair care – shampoo; paper products – toilet tissue, paper towels, and feminine care; baby care – diapers, pull-ups sizes 4-6, and wipes; personal care – soft soap, bar soap, unscented deodorant, and razors; and dental care – soft toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Marshfield area collection sites, include: the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Associated Bank, Aster Assisted Living, Century 21 Gold Key Realty, Faith Lutheran, Festival Foods, First Presbyterian, First United Church of Christ, Forward Financial Bank, Good Shepherd, Immanuel Lutheran Church, MACCI, Marshfield Police Department, Marshfield Utilities, North Ridge Church, Pick N’ Save, Pioneer Bank, Shopko, Three Oaks, Health Services, Walgreens, and Zion United Methodist Church.

Wisconsin Rapids area collection sites are: Baker Street Wesleyan, Coldwell Banker-Siewert Realtors, First Congregational, First English Church, Grace Lutheran, Immanuel Lutheran Church & School, Moravian Church, Shopko, St Paul Lutheran, St. Luke’s, St. Vincent de Paul Church, Trinity Lutheran, United Church of Christ, Nekoosa United Methodist, and Walgreens.

For a more comprehensive list or information, visit http://919.thefamily.net/community/help-for-the-homeless or call 800-236-9364.