December 25, 2024

IMPACT opens doors to hygiene pantry

Those in need can apply for assistance

By Kayla Langmaid

IMPACT Community Action Partnership Coordinator Patty Sneddon stocks the shelf of the hygiene pantry which opened Tuesday at the Jasper County Annex Building. The pantry is now open for individuals or families who are in need, upon approval of an application. (Kayla Langmaid)

IMPACT Community Action Partnership has opened its doors to assist people in a new way this week through offering a personal hygiene pantry, which is now available to individuals and families in need.

The pantry houses personal hygiene items, as well as various household items and is located at IMPACT’s office in the Jasper County Annex Building, 115 N. Second Ave. Individuals are eligible if they already receive utility assistance or through an application process.

Amy Hansen, IMPACT outreach, said the personal pantry kicked off Tuesday and was made possible from a grant from Theisen’s, and item donations from Black Hills Energy, United Health Care and the Jasper County Health Department.

“We came about this by doing an assessment,” Hansen said. “Fifty-three percent of the respondents decided on the personal pantry.”

The survey asked a variety of questions that included categories for assistance such as, employment, transportation, housing or health. A personal hygiene pantry was among those categories and it got the most feedback.

“There isn’t anywhere else (in Newton) that has personal items to this extent to our knowledge,” Hansen said.

Patty Sneddon, IMPACT Coordinator, said the two biggest needs in Jasper County are utility assistance and hygiene item assistance. Now those in need can count on the hygiene pantry once every three months.

“When you go to the grocery store the non-food items are usually the most expensive,” Sneddon said. “This can be a huge relief for a lot of people who really need it.”

Sneddon said while the pantry is located in Newton, there will be opportunities for those who live in communities outside of the county seat and are unable to travel to get products. Her first step will be to contact family member of those in need to see if they are available to pick up the items.

Items available at the pantry include laundry detergent, soaps, hair care products, oral care products, household cleaners, men and women deodorant, paper towels and more.

Hansen said the pantry has already seen a number of visitors and is set to assist at least four more families by the end of the week.

“The individual I helped was very grateful. She didn’t know if she could do her laundry,” Hansen said.

Kat Pitts, IMPACT outreach, said she hopes the pantry will reach a great number of low-income families.

“I would hope we could give them their dignity back and also get the word out about IMPACT,” Pitts said. “I helped a lady today who really needed something and she couldn’t go without it — she was really thankful.”

For more information about the personal hygiene pantry, contact Sneddon at 641-792-3008.

Contact Kayla Langmaid at 641-792-3121 ext. 6513 or klangmaid@newtondailynews.com.