CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — With the new school year approaching, Central Illinois has hosted several school supply drives. However, this week featured a unique drive.
The Salvation Army of Champaign County gave out hygiene products.
When students have access to these products, they can start the school year with their best foot forward.
“Our aim is for kids heading back to school to feel as confident as possible,” said Kenyon Sivels, Corps Officer of the Champaign County Salvation Army.
They saw a lot of community partners hosting school supply drives, but noticed something missing.
“We noticed a gap related to students returning to school not having the essential hygiene products they need for a successful year,” Sivels explained.
This realization led to the inauguration of their first hygiene supply drive. Rachel Banfield, who is entering her 30th year of teaching, has observed the need for these supplies firsthand.
“There are students who attend school daily who might not know the importance of hygiene or lack the supplies to maintain it at home,” Banfield noted.
Sivels said their goal is to help teens have positive self-esteem.
“Having a backpack filled with notebooks and folders boosts confidence. Similarly, having access to soap and deodorant contributes to that confidence,” Sivels added.
Banfield sees why that’s so important.
“Whenever you think about the confidence of a kid, I mean, you want them to have their best foot forward. And whenever they don’t have those hygiene products and they aren’t able to take care of themselves in that way, then it is kind of a hindrance,” Banfield said.
The community donated many of the products from shampoo to sanitizing items. This showed Sivels that he’s not the only one who wants to invest in students.
“Kids are the future. But even for the right now, kids do so much. They bring so much value to every community they’re in, and if we can give them value, we want to do that,” Sivels said.
The hygiene drive will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday at the Salvation Army on Market St. as well. However, even after Friday, the Salvation Army will still be accepting hygiene products to continue supporting students throughout the school year. Only high school students in Champaign County can participate.
