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PARKERSBURG -- The Parkersburg Rotary Club and the Salvation Army of Parkersburg are in the homestretch of a collaborative project helping residents in need.
Called Jumpstart, the initiative focuses on emergency shelter and transitional housing operated by the Salvation Army in Parkersburg.
"The goal of this project is to provide a new travel bag, bath towel and wash cloth, and appropriate hygiene items for every resident who stays at the emergency shelter," Salvation Army Maj. Patrick Richmond. "We hope to give a sense of dignity to each of its recipients, both of their new items and of themselves.
"Just like a car with a low battery needs a jumpstart in order to get moving in the right direction, we all sometimes need a jumpstart to realize our own self-worth in order to move in the right direction," Richmond said.
The Salvation Army will use $2,000 Rotary grant to purchase 52 foldable duffle bags with wheels for the project. Towels, wash clothes and hygiene items are being collected through different drives and collection times.
After the entry process is complete, the new shelter resident would be given a bag, bath towel and wash cloth and then given access to the Jumpstart closet where they can select the hygiene items they need.
"We invite the public to join us in making hygiene item donations as we improve the lives of people that need a helping hand," Brian Raitz, Rotary Club president, said.
Richmond estimates the project will be completed by Jan. 31.