Homeless Bag Project gets good response for return drive
Although it had been on hiatus for more than a year, the Homeless Bag Project received many donations of clothing and hygiene items when its drive returned on Saturday, Sept. 20.
One woman brought in dozens of caps she knit herself, and another group brought dozens of socks for the project, all of which were sorted into bags that will be given out at the Butler County Stand Down in November.
The founder of the project, Stepfanie Armstrong, said it has come a long way since years ago, when she was running it out of her car. The drive took place in the Butler YWCA; had help from volunteers from Slippery Rock University, the GFWC Intermediate League and more; and will have space to distribute at the Stand Down event.
All that was needed was donations, which came in pretty quick on Saturday.
“This is a pretty decent haul,” Armstrong said. “And the need is there for it.”
The Homeless Bag Project is the name Armstrong gave her own initiative of gathering clothing and hygiene items into bags and giving them to people experiencing homelessness or those getting help from a social aid agency in and around Butler. In 2022, Armstrong partnered with Slippery Rock University’s community engagement office to gather and distribute supplies through the Butler YWCA.
The project continues to serve the same function — now Armstrong just has a team of people helping her to pack and distribute items. Armstrong commented that the project will distribute at the Stand Down this year because in speaking with veterans organizations, including VA Butler Health Care, she learned that many veterans are unsure of where to go to get assistance.
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.
“We try to make them as even as possible so that everybody can get the same items,” Armstrong said in August. “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.”
Sue Evans, administrative assistant at the Butler YWCA, said the YWCA has been storing items gathered by Armstrong since 2022, when she got connected to the organization. Evans is also a member of the GFWC Intermediate League, and said she was happy to help the Homeless Bag Project through both of her outlets.
“We try to help support local causes,” Evans said. “It’s a great thing and we’re glad to support it.”
When all was said and done and the drive ended at 2 p.m. Saturday, Armstrong said it had garnered enough donations to fill 135 bags. About two hours into the drive, Armstrong said the response had already wowed her.
“The community is amazing for this,” Armstrong said at the drive. “Everyone wants to help and it’s so touching.”
