UNITED WAY KICKS OFF MONTH OF ACTION WITH UNITED WE CARE DRIVE
Collecting donations of personal care items for local families in need
United Way of Monmouth and Ocean Counties (UWMOC) is kicking off its Month of Action and the launch of its new basic needs initiative with the United We Care Drive for personal care items. Throughout the month of June, UWMOC is encouraging volunteers to take action and participate in the United We Care Drive and a variety of other opportunities to make a real impact on our community.
The new basic needs initiative is part of United Way’s work in financial stability, which connects people experiencing economic hardship to immediate and long-term assistance. Through this project, United Way is looking to provide consistent, reliable access to household essentials to alleviate the financial strain and stress on families in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Additionally, they will be connected to resources to address longer-term financial stability through UWMOC’s Financial Success Center Network.
An average of 34.5% of households in our region are struggling to make ends meet and cannot afford basic necessities. Economic hardship in our community has only been deepened by the pandemic, which has caused job loss as well as an increase in consumer demand and cost of household essentials.
“Financial challenges existed for many families prior to the COVID-19 crisis, and now many more are having to make difficult decisions about how their limited funds are spent,” said Christine Jagerburger, Vice President of Community Impact for United Way of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. “Our neighbors shouldn’t have to choose between paying bills and purchasing hygiene products for their family, which many people don’t realize are not covered by government aid such as SNAP. United Way’s basic needs initiative aims to provide access to these desperately needed products and extend the limited income of our unserved and underserved residents in Monmouth and Ocean counties.”
The United We Care Drive is collecting donations of full-size personal care items such as shampoo, conditioner, feminine hygiene products, body wash, bar soap, deodorant, toothpaste, and toothbrushes. Items can be purchased through UWMOC’s wish lists on Amazon and Target through June 30, 2021: tinyurl.com/UWMOC-Amazon or tinyurl.com/UWMOC-Target. Products can also be bought in stores and dropped off at the United Way office on Wednesday, June 30th from 12pm-4pm. The office is located at 4814 Outlook Drive in Wall Township, NJ and donations can be brought to the back parking lot. Monetary donations for the drive will also be accepted on UWMOC’s website.
Donated items will be used as part of the pilot phase of the project, which includes assembling items into hygiene bags for adults and children later this summer. In collaboration with the organization’s partners, United Way’s goal is to distribute items to targeted families in Monmouth and Ocean counties on a monthly basis.
For a full list of items needed and more information, please visit uwmoc.org/united-we-care or contact Jackie Liguori at 848-206-2037 or jliguori@uwmoc.org.