Interfaith Members Assemble 1,000+ Hygiene Kits During Pandemic

In Contra Costa County there are approximately 1,600 residents currently living outdoors according to Contra Costa County Health, Housing and Homeless Services. The pandemic has made it more difficult for these residents to access food and meet hygiene needs. The county indicates that approximately 500 hygiene kits are distributed monthly to these residents. The county reached out to Contra Costa County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (CCCVOAD) asking for help and CCCVOAD turned to the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County to meet these needs. The Interfaith Council links faith groups throughout our county to serve together.

In the first phase of this on-going project, members of the Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church and Sufism Reoriented – Walnut Creek supplied and assembled 530 hygiene kits for the county to distribute in September.

In the second phase, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provided hygiene kit supplies to assemble 1,000 kits. Each kit includes: soap, shampoo & conditioner, deodorant, hand sanitizer, hand wipes, a home-made face mask, razor, shaving cream, tampons, toothbrush, toothpaste, two pairs of socks and a personal note written by a volunteer.

Over 175 volunteers from three faith groups: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church, and Temple Isaiah participated in the project. On Saturday, November 14, 2020 volunteers assembled 500 kits at the San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church in Alamo and then 500 kits were assembled at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Pleasant Hill on Wednesday, November 18, 2020.

Wearing masks, volunteers followed local social distancing guidelines and worked in small groups to assemble the kits in one hour time slots.

The 1,000 kits were delivered to the county for distribution by approximately 30 Coordinated Outreach Referral, Engagement (CORE) workers who blanket the county to meet with homeless residents and assist with their needs.

The food kits and hygiene kits meet personal needs – both physical and emotional. Often as the individuals open their kit, and read the personal note, they recognize that there are community members thinking about them, caring for them and interested in them. That gives them hope and sometimes the strength to carry on.

Ongoing support is needed for residents currently living outdoors in Contra Costa County. Additional hygiene kits will be assembled during early January 2021. (Article by Lance Littlejohn of Alamo, CA)