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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – On Thursday, May 15 Baptist Health Shelby Hospital presented a donation to assist the local nonprofit Family Connection with its mission to help youth in crisis.

During National Hospital Week from May 11-17, team members at Baptist Health Shelby Hospital collected supplies to donate to Family Connection, which is a nonprofit organization located in Alabaster.

“Building these partnerships within the community is huge,” said Heather McGuirk, assistant shelter manager at Family Connection. “All of us are on the same mission in terms of taking care of people. Donations like these are what allows us to do what we do. We’re extremely grateful for all the things Shelby is donating. The kids will use them daily, so we really appreciate it.

The following supplies were collected throughout the week:

• Dryer sheets
• Liquid laundry detergent
• Swiffer wet jet
• Swiffer wet Jet cleaner solution
• Swiffer wet jet mop pad refills
• Clorox toilet wands
• Clorox toilet wand disinfecting refills
• Mr. Clean magic erasers
• Clorox wipes
• Clorox disinfecting all-purpose spray
• Plastic cups
• Toilet paper
• Paper towels
• Paper plates
• Paper bowls
• Plastic forks
• Plastic spoons
• Cordless vacuum
• Plastic drawer storage organizer
• Clothes hangers

Family Connection is located at 2 Walker Run, Alabaster, AL 35007 and has worked since 1976 to offer emergency shelter, safety, counseling and youth advocacy. The agency first began as a 12-bed group home for at-risk children and continued to grow from there. According to Family Connection, its Youth Shelter in Alabaster is the only federally recognized emergency shelter for runaway and homeless youth under age 18 in Alabama.

“We are committed to supporting youth who need emergency shelter, have or are considering running away, are unhoused, are experiencing family disruption or are in need of crisis intervention or counseling,” read an official statement by Family Connection on its website. “Family Connection’s programs are therapeutic, trauma-informed and offer immediate, short-term and long-term supports to address each young person’s individual need.

Those interested in learning more about Family Connection may visit its official Facebook page at Facebook.com/FamilyConnectionAL.