Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

FROM STAFF REPORTS

PELHAM – On Saturday, March 8, members of the Shelby County Democratic Party gathered in Pelham to organize a community donation drive that directly benefited those aided by Oak Mountain Missions Ministries.

During the event, volunteers with the SCDP collected more than 500 items related to personal hygiene and also took the opportunity to meet and converse with members of the community drawn to the activity.

“During the drive, we had the pleasure of meeting some like-minded neighbors that were thankful for us having the drive and for our presence,”  said Leslie Tyus, chair of the SCDP Public Relations/Outreach Committee. “The Shelby County Democratic Party wants to thank all of those that stopped by, said a kind word and participated by donating items or monies for our first event of the year.”

Tyus and the SCDP volunteers settled upon the personal hygiene drive out of an awareness that items such as deodorant, shampoo, bar soap, body wash, toilet paper and toothpaste are not covered under Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

“Items related to personal hygiene are crucial to the physical and mental health of everyone and can largely affect an individual’s job opportunities and social standing,” said Donald Mottern, a member of the Shelby County Democratic Party’s Executive Committee. “This is especially so in times when they are not able to afford such items or might even have to choose the purchase of food and medications instead of these items.”

According to Tyus, the public’s response resulted in the drive finding great success, with a large variety of items being collected over the course of just two hours.

“We collected more than 500 personal hygiene items and received an additional $50  in donations to be used toward the purchase of more,” Tyus said. “All donations will be given to Oak Mountain Missions Ministries to help them continue assistance for those in need.”

Among the items collected,  the SCDP reported the following as being donated by members of the community:

• 94 boxes of toothpaste
• 93 bars of soap
• 85 rolls of toilet paper
• 67 sticks of deodorant
• 50 bottles of body wash/shampoo
• 47 packs of toothbrushes
• 24 bottles of hand soap
• 23 bottles of hand sanitizer
• 20 packs of razors

The recipient of these items, Oak Mountain Missions Ministries, is ​501c3 nonprofit organization that works to provide food, clothing, financial and other assistance to those in need within Shelby County and the Greater Birmingham area. They are currently located at 2699 Pelham Parkway and are open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays ​from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.