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FROM STAFF REPORTS

PELHAM – The Shelby County Democratic Party will organize a community-led donation drive this Saturday and is seeking to collect personal hygiene items for those in need within Shelby County.

The event will take place on Saturday, March 8 from 10 a.m. to noon at the parking lot of the Highway 31 Big Lots/Staples located at 3552 Pelham Parkway, Pelham, AL 35124.

“Our community service project committee is dedicated to creating positive change and making a tangible difference in the lives of our neighbors,” said Leslie Tyus, chairman of the Public Relations/Outreach Committee. “We are a group of passionate individuals who believe in the power of collective effort to solve local issues and improve the quality of life for everyone in our community.”

Among the most needed items are: deodorant, shampoo, bar soap, body wash, toilet paper and toothpaste. The donations collected will be distributed by local non-profit social service organizations.

“When our members identify a need in the community, our committee seeks to meet that need by identifying nonprofit agencies, ministries and resource centers that serve the people of Shelby County to collaborate with in achieving that goal,” Tyus said. “We collaborate by hosting public donation drives as well as transporting the donations collected.”

Tyus said the party chose to collect personal hygiene items as a first community project since they are not covered by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. The requested items are also among the most frequently asked for, according to Oak Mountain Ministries.

“These are challenging times that we as a nation are facing and the need is ever intensifying,” Tyus said. “With government assistance being dismantled there is a demand for the local community to support each other as neighbors.”

According to Donald Mottern, a member of the Shelby County Democratic Party’s Executive Committee, the party has collected thousands of items in the past to assist families in Shelby County.

“On multiple occasions, members of our party have successfully helped ensure that our neighbors do not have to go without,” Mottern said. “Through past outreach and fellowship with local organizations, we have collected thousands of items that have supported struggling families in our community and that have even bolstered local schools, such as Thompson, Calera and Columbiana Middle Schools. This is our first major drive of the year, and we are already looking to build upon this effort in the months to come.”

Those with questions about the upcoming event and how to become involved in future planned drives are encouraged to email the Shelby County Democratic Party’s Community Service Project Committee at scdcommunityservicesprojects@gmail.com.