By Joshua Robison / The Jambar
The Youngstown State University Coalition Against Human Trafficking Club and the YSU Psychology Club began its hygiene drive March 18 to collect full-size hygiene products for local homeless and rehabilitation centers.
Items accepted include shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste and soap. Travel-sized hygiene products, food and clothing will not be accepted.
YCAHT and the psychology club placed donation boxes in Beeghly Hall, Cushwa Hall, Cafaro Hall, Debartolo Hall, Ward Beecher Hall, Meshal Hall and William F. Maag, Jr. Library.
Donations will be accepted until March 30. YCAHT and the psychology club members will then distribute collected items to the following organizations, including:
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- Clothed in Strength
- Harriet Tubman Movement
- HomeSafe Inc.
- RAHAB Ministries
- Sojourner House
- Someplace Safe
- Penguin Pantry
Robyn Dinoble, sophomore nursing major and president of YCAHT, said many homeless shelters take in human trafficking and domestic violence victims.
“A lot of human trafficking victims are at these homeless shelters and are also at the domestic violence shelters,” Dinoble said. “When a human trafficking victim gets in contact with law enforcement or law enforcement finds them, this is where they go to seek shelter.”
Dinoble also said that the YCAHT’s mission is a big reason for holding the hygiene drive.
“We want to spread the message of awareness about human trafficking locally. I think that’s the most important part and why we’re putting [the hygiene drive] on,” Dinoble said.
Dinoble said YCAHT offers educational opportunities and service hours for students in the Sokolov Honors College.
“Our incentive for students is we want them to learn about human trafficking, which is why we hold a lot of tabling events,” Dinoble said.
Honors students can receive one volunteer hour for every five donated items, for up to five hours.
Dinoble said that YCAHT wants to help people feel cared for with full-seized items.
“It’s really important to feel like they are cared about. They have these items so that they can feel clean, and they can feel like people,” Dinoble said. “Part of why we ask for full-size items only is because they’re obviously not going to be at the shelters for years and years, or maybe even months. We want them to be able to take the full-sized items with them when they have a place to go.”
Those interested in learning more about the hygiene drive or joining YCAHT can contact Dinoble at radinoble@student.ysu.edu or attend the club’s weekly meetings at 4 p.m. Wednesdays in Cushwa Hall.