Benjamin Franklin International Exploratory Academy is collecting donations to provide hygiene packs for students.
The school is asking for new or gently used makeup or travel bags and personal-sized hygiene items, such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soap, deodorants, tooth brushes, toothpaste and feminine hygiene products.
Leanna Wartberg, a nurse assistant at the school, is collaborating with the Parent-Teacher Association to lead the semester-long drive.
“Middle school students are in a transition period and puberty is hitting hard,” Wartberg says. “Sometimes they need a gentle reminder of personal care.”
She adds that the donations will be helpful to students after the experiences they’ve faced over the past couple years, including the tornado in 2019, the pandemic and last month’s winter storm.
About 1,100 students attend Franklin, with about 400 on campus. Not all of them will need packs, but the school wants to have enough for anyone who does. Since the drive started a few weeks ago, the school has collected about 50 bags and an assortment of personal hygiene products.
Donations can be dropped off at the school, located at 6920 Meadow Road, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
