For the City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The Family Radio Networks’ 29th annual “Help for the Homeless” hygiene drive kicked off Feb. 14 and runs through March 7 in Wisconsin Rapids and surrounding communities.

The annual drive is geared to collect new personal hygiene and cleaning products for 87 Wisconsin crisis agencies in 18 east, northeast, and central Wisconsin communities. Locally, donations collected will stay in this community and support The Wisconsin Rapids Family Center and South Wood Emerging Pantry Shelf (SWEPS), both local nonprofit agencies. The Family Center supports survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and SWEPS provides support for those experiencing food insecurities.

People are encouraged to donate hygiene items at public collection sites. Donors may also make secure, financial donations online at www.TheFamily.net.

Annually, more than 900 area businesses, churches, and schools participate by hosting boxes or collecting internally from staff, members and students. Donations of supplies and financial support will be used by the community where they come from.

The Family Radio Network partners with area homeless coalitions and crisis programs by inviting the community to donate needed hygiene items for their local agencies through “Help for the Homeless.” Supplying the crisis programs with laundry soap, hair and dental care items, deodorant, diapers, and other personal care and cleaning products makes it possible for them to dedicate their limited financial resources to providing qualified personnel, education, counseling, safe housing, and nutritious food to those they serve.

These products are especially needed, as Food Share can only be used to buy food, not items such as: soap, diapers or toothpaste, and other hygiene supplies.

The goal of the drive is to supply a year’s worth of products to each agency. $3.7 million dollars’ worth of hygiene items have been donated through the event to date.

Donation boxes are located at: Anytime Fitness, 2521 Eighth St., Wisconsin Rapids; Baker Street Wesleyan Church, 640 Baker St., Wisconsin Rapids; Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 316 Buehler Ave., Nekoosa; Coldwell Banker Siewert Realtors, 325 Eighth St. S., Wisconsin Rapids; Faith Reformed Church, 1321 32nd St. N., Wisconsin Rapids; First Congregational Church-United Church of Christ, 311 Second St. S., Wisconsin Rapids; First English Lutheran, 440 Garfield St., Wisconsin Rapids; First Weber Realtors, 841 Goodnow Ave., Wisconsin Rapids ; Grace Lutheran Church, 1531 Whitrock Ave., Wisconsin Rapids; Immanuel Lutheran Church/School, 111 11th St. N., Wisconsin Rapids; Loyal-Phant Market3031 Plover Road, Wisconsin Rapids; Moravian Church

310 First Ave. S., Wisconsin Rapids; River Cities Christian Church, 869 Hwy 73 S., Wisconsin Rapids; St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church, 320 Oak St., Wisconsin Rapids; St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 2011 10th St. S., Wisconsin Rapids; St. Paul Lutheran Church, 311 14th Ave. S., Wisconsin Rapids; St. Vincent de Paul Church, 820 13th St. S., Wisconsin Rapids; Trinity Lutheran Church, 990 Third St., Port Edwards; United Church of Christ-Nekoosa, 205 Market St. Nekoosa; United Methodist Church, 411 Wisconsin River Drive, Port Edwards; Walgreens, 3200 Eighth St. S., Wisconsin Rapids.