Butler’s Homeless Bag Project returns with new goals
In speaking with older veterans who get care at VA Butler Healthcare, Stepfanie Armstrong learned that many of them had difficulty affording certain toiletries, much less stocking up on them.
She had been running what she called the Homeless Bag Project out of her personal vehicle for years — delivering supplies to people in bags she assembled herself. In 2022, Armstrong partnered with Slippery Rock University’s community engagement office to gather and distribute supplies through the Butler YWCA. She is returning to the program in September with the goal of distributing at the Butler County Stand Down.
The collection will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at the YWCA, 120 W. Cunningham St., Butler. Armstrong said she hopes to restock on as many food and clothing items and toiletries as possible.
“This drive is for Butler County Stand Down and we’re doing full-size items this year,” Armstrong said. “The cuts in SNAP and all that, people are struggling more, and we are trying to focus more on kids’ items, because they are very expensive and can't afford even fun toothbrushes.”
The Homeless Bag Project is once again getting support from SRU, and its Center for Community Engagement. Josette Skobieranda Dau, associate director of community impact and partnerships for the Center for Community Engagement, said the supplies collected at a previous donation drive have dwindled, so the Sept. 20 drive was planned to build the stock up.
How to Help
WHAT: A donation drive for Butler County Stand Down and the Homeless Bag Project
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 20
WHERE: Butler YWCA, 120 West Cunningham Street in Butler.
NEEDED: Full-size toiletry items, food, socks and clothing items including items for children
Skobieranda Dau said the Butler YWCA is a good hub for the collection and storage because people are familiar with the agency and it can distribute supplies to its clients.
“We’re down to almost nothing at the YWCA,” Skobieranda Dau said. “We’re all out of supplies and we need individual toiletries.”
Needed donations include new or gently used hoodies, new socks, winter hats, gloves, toothbrushes, toothpaste, mini First-Aid kits, lotion, ChapStick, garbage bags, Ziploc bags, backpacks, drawstring bags, cases of water and solar flashlights. The collection will also take in small-sized food items such as Jell-O, fruit cups, individual granola bars, cheese and crackers, Fruit Roll-Ups or beef jerky — and anything which adds nutritional value.
Armstrong said she and other volunteers will be at the Stand Down event, taking place Nov. 7 at American Legion Post 778, 150 Legion Memorial Lane, to give out bags filled with supplies to whoever needs them.
What the group is able to give out depends on what is donated to the YWCA on Sept. 20, but Armstrong said she hopes to bring 200 to 300 packed bags to Stand Down.
“We try to make them as even as possible so that everybody can get the same items,” Armstrong said. “Since we are donation driven, sometimes we just have what we have. We try to put two pairs of socks in each bag, because that’s the biggest request of homeless shelters.”
After a few years away from the project, Armstrong said she is “really happy” to be helping people in need again. She said it seems like there is even more need in the community for toiletries and food than ever.
“One of the things I noticed when doing Stand Down and talking to the vets is they knew where to get food and clothing, but they didn’t know where to get toiletries and they are getting so expensive,” Armstrong said. “I had conversations a couple years ago, and they were so thankful just to get soap.”
