The Community Foundation for South Central New York will launch its second annual Hygiene Fund Drive beginning Tuesday, April 15.
According to a news release from the foundation, the project began last year, when Development Officer Shawn Graham noticed an influx of requests for hygiene products from organizations in the region. He turned to social media to mobilize support across the foundation’s five-county service area — Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego and Tioga.
In two weeks, the campaign raised nearly $10,000. The foundation distributed grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 to 13 organizations. This year, the foundation hopes to double that amount by hosting another crowdfunding campaign through April 30.
“Our program officer was hearing from pantries across the region about the skyrocketing demand for hygiene products,” Graham said. “These pantries uphold basic human dignity for those at risk. We knew it was time to rally broader community support. Our goal is to increase annual contributions until the need no longer exists.”
Those interested can help by texting DIGNITY2ALL to 53-555 or visiting givebutter.com/Z2QvFG, according to the release.
“What began as a two-week drive has now grown into a flagship fund for the foundation, gaining year-round support to maximize community impact,” the release stated.
The Community Foundation for South Central New York is a nonprofit organization founded in 1997 and headquartered in Johnson City. The foundation “encourages and facilitates personal and institutional philanthropy throughout the region by working with local donors and organizations,” the release stated. The foundation has awarded more than $30 million in grants to the area’s nonprofits to help address community concerns and improve the quality of life in the region, according to the release.