After success in last year’s drive, the students and staff of Northwoods Community Secondary School have been contacted by the coordinator of The Family Help for the Homeless Hygiene Drive asking if we would like to participate again this year. We were more than happy to accept the offer and join in on this great opportunity to give back to our community for the second time.

The Help for the Homeless drive is a fundraiser which collects hygiene products such as shampoo, soap, toilet paper, toothpaste, and diapers for the homeless or those at risk of homelessness. This drive benefits homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, and crisis agencies that serve those in need within the population of Oneida, Vilas, Langlade, and Forest counties.

The Family Help for the Homeless drive originated in the Green Bay area 23 years ago. This year, the drive will take place between February 22 and March 15. The drive is sponsored by The Family Radio Station in Appleton. Since 2008, this drive has collected over $1.3 million dollars worth of hygiene products for those in need in 13 different communities and over 80 crisis and homeless agencies throughout Wisconsin.

NCSS believes that the Help for the Homeless Drive would benefit our community in a tremendous way by providing the things that most of us consider to be basic necessities to those less fortunate who cannot say the same. We believe that with the assistance of this drive, it will improve the quality of life for many people who are struggling since all proceeds are distributed within the area they are collected.

This is why a multitude of NCSS students will be contributing their time to help generate different ways in which we can help promote the Help for the Homeless Drive. To help benefit the drive, we will be hosting the second Help for the Homeless Overdrive benefit concert, which will be taking place on Sunday, March 8 in the Rhinelander High School Library Media Center. Last year’s Help for the Homeless Overdrive collected over $700 worth of products last year.

If you would like to contribute to the Help for the Homeless Drive, please drop off your donations in boxes placed throughout the area. The boxes will have a Help for the Homeless poster on them. Boxes can be found at participating churches and businesses. All donations will be distributed in the communities in which they are collected.