Woman devotes her birthday to helping homeless
A Butler woman helped the homeless over the Christmas holiday, using her birthday as a charity drive.
Holly Croll created a Facebook post Dec. 1 asking her friends and family to donate items, time or funds to make hygiene bags for the homeless, in lieu of birthday gifts for herself. She turned 43 on Christmas Eve.
“My goal was 43 bags for turning 43 years 'young,'” Croll said.
Croll surpassed that and donated 50 hygiene bags Friday to Amber Crowe, director of Catholic Charities on West New Castle Street. The bags contained shampoo, conditioner, lotion, a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, soap, lip balm and deodorant.
“Basic hygiene is a need everyone should have,” she said. “It's not like a gift, but for some it is.”
She said the gift could help someone present themselves better at a job interview, which is the first step to finding a job and stability.
“Those are all little steps in the right directions,” she said.
Croll said her volunteer work in the community gave her a more personal perspective on the homeless problem in the county. While she was stunned that so many find themselves on the streets, she also discovered a lot of good organizations willing to help. She said the problem is informing those who need help that it is out there.
“I had no idea that there were resources here in the community,” she said.
After her initial post, Croll received significant support through her social media solicitations and PayPal helped her friends from other states donate, too.
“I think a lot of people want to do good, but do not know where to start, or what the needs are,” she said. “Be resourceful and find out what you can do to make your community a better place for all walks of life.”
Croll said the strategy worked so well that she hopes to start a club for those who participated so they can reach out to the homeless in their neighborhoods. She said it has the potential to become something bigger than one birthday.
“You can turn it into so much more when you join forces,” she said. “It can grow from our community and beyond.”
