Hygiene Kits Supplied To Valley County Students Courtesy Of Local Support

With support from Caring Hands, Aaron Chatten Memorial Tournament and Glasgow Reynolds Market, the Valley County Health Department recently donated hygiene kits to all Valley County schools. These kits include tampons and pads (for high school students), toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant and body wash for all genders. These items will be available at Glasgow High School, Glasgow Middle School, Nashua School, Opheim School, Frazer School, Hinsdale School and Lustre Schools not only for students who need them during the school day but will also be utilized for overnight activity trips, such as sporting events.

Congregate Care Coordinator at the Valley County Health Department Robin Johnson distributed the items to the schools after seeing the need. "When talking to teachers, secretaries and office staff when I was in the schools doing other things, I found out they were purchasing hygiene items for their students out of their own pockets. There was certainly a need that no one was filling," stated Johnson.

After having those discussions, Johnson decided to fulfill the need and help. "Last year when I was organizing different areas of the Health Department, I located items that were left over from other classes/events. We donated these items and also donated toothpaste and toothbrushses to Hinsdale School, to help," said Johnson. "Dorothy Jensen [paraprofessional at Hinsdale School] works really hard to educate students."

When seeing how impactful donating such small amount of items were, Johnson decided to do more this year. She applied and obtained a grant from Caring Hands, as well as obtained funds from Aaron Chatten Memorial Tournament, in addition to the funds the Valley County Health Department had available to purchase the necessary items. Glasgow Reynolds Market helped by donating a part of the tampons and pads due to supply chain issues. "We could not get the small Tampax and pads ordered so Deb Tade [manager at Reynolds] was able to get some ordered for us and provided them to us at a discounted rate," said Johnson.

While these items will be available for students while attending school, coaches and staff will also have the ability to take bags of the products on the bus with them when traveling for activities. "When traveling for wrestling, as an example, kids don't bring the necessary supplies. Coaches can bring the bags on the road with them," said Johnson.

The supplies also won't just be limited to one quantity, especially when it comes to pads and tampons. As Johnson stated, the high school will ask the student if the need is for the rest of the week as well and provide the student with the necessary quantity to get them through.

While the hope is the supplies will last the schools for awhile, Johnson will replenish as funding and supply chains allow.