ISU-Boise Students Gather Scarves, Hats and Toiletries For Treasure Valley's Needy and Homeless

Boise – Idaho State University-Boise speech-language pathology students spent Dec. 4, stuffing plastic bags with small containers of shampoo, lotion, toothpaste and other toiletries to give to the Treasure Valley’s needy and homeless populations.

“This time of the year, it’s really nice to help people in the community. For many, these kinds of items represent the bare necessities of life. They may be able to help people land a job or keep them from getting sick,” said Sydney Harris, president of the ISU-Boise chapter of NSSLHA, the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association.

The quart-sized care baggies are being distributed this holiday season through the mobile HIV and health screening clinic operated by ISU-Boise’s HIV educator Judy Thorne and El Ada Community Action Partnerships.

ISU-Boise students, faculty and staff have spent the past month gathering and sorting the toiletries as well as hats, scarves, gloves and socks for distribution through the mobile clinic. The drive was spearheaded by ISU-Boise administrative assistants Donna Yates and Susan Schaffer.

“We thought it would make an excellent holiday project, and the speech-language students were more than happy to help us,” said Yates.

Students collected enough items to fill 60 care packages with travel-size containers of toiletries, including disposable razors, shaving cream, toothpaste, deodorant, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products and dental floss. Larger containers of shampoo, soap, diapers and baby wipes will go to local shelters.

Media Contact: Chris Gabettas, University Relations, ISU-Meridian, 208-373-1806