The drive started on Dec. 2, and items were collected through Feb. 10.

Dignity Drive Chair Laurel Nowak said she was overjoyed with the community’s generosity. Star Staffing’s Pam Richardson co-chaired the drive.

“Things really picked up,” Nowak said.

Last year, enough items were donated to provide to the School Success Programs at Thunder Bay Junior High and Alpena High School, as well as the Foster Closet of Northern Michigan.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Representatives from area schools and the Foster Closet picked up hygiene items for youth on Tuesday that were collected during the 2nd Annual Dignity Drive. Crouching in front are Elise Leeck with Thunder Bay Junior High, and Dignity Drive Chair Laurel Nowak. Standing, from left, are Holly Jore with Immanuel Lutheran School, Sarah Benjamin with Lincoln Elementary, Lisa Werth with Besser Elementary, Julie Benson with Thunder Bay Junior High, Jolene Price with Hinks Elementary, Paige Bruski with Besser Elementary, and Amy Minton with the Foster Closet.

This year, they received so many donations that they were able to expand their reach to also provide hygiene items to the eight area elementary schools, including six public and two parochial schools.

“This year, we’ve had such an outpouring from the community that we were able to do three big boxes of donations to the high school, the middle school, and the Foster Closet, and do eight boxes for the community elementary schools,” Nowak said. “It’s very amazing.”

Nowak and Richardson were elated with the community’s generosity, and they want to thank everyone who donated.

“I almost started crying,” Nowak said. “I want to thank them for showing up for our children … I know a lot of kids that don’t have personal hygiene products, and they get bullied, and they have issues, so, to me, this is just Alpena being amazing, saying, ‘We care about our children.'”

On Tuesday, representatives from schools and the Foster Closet came to Star Staffing to pick up the items to distribute to youth in need.

“I just don’t know if you guys realize the number of families that this touches,” said Julie Benson, with Thunder Bay Junior High.

Benson explained that schools often are able to provide basics, such as shampoo and soap, to students in need, but that items such as lip balm and hair ties are considered “luxury items.”

“Having that tube of Chapstick, and being able to have a hair tie on their wrist, it makes them fit in,” Benson said. “It’s so important. Not just the cleanliness factor, and taking the load off the family, but being able to fit in.”

“They can actually focus on schoolwork, versus ‘I don’t feel comfortable,'” added Lisa Werth, with Besser Elementary.

School and Foster Closet representatives are so grateful for the support.

“We just greatly appreciate you guys reaching out to us,” Werth told Nowak and the Star Staffing staff. “Because this all goes back to the community. It goes back to all these families that are struggling.”