Social Work Students Gift Hygiene Kits To Miami Homeless

FAU’s Phyllis and Harvey Sandler School of Social Work is committed to alleviating human suffering in many ways, including through its community engagement initiatives. Students enrolled in the Practice with Families course on the FAU Davie campus engaged with the school’s mission directly when they were offered the opportunity to participate in a service project. The BSW students unanimously opted to participate and voted to serve our local homeless population by supplying free hygiene packets.

"Coming together as a class to create hygiene kits for the homeless was powerful, as it showed how people can be present and aware of one another in times like these," said BSW student Lahaney Leveille.

With lots of joy and excitement, the students packed more than 100 hygiene packets filled with items they purchased themselves or collected through family and friends – toothpaste, mouthwash, hand cream, deodorant, shampoo and many more difference-making items! – and then donated the packets to the Miami Rescue Mission initiative Mission Hope. 

 

“It felt great to be a part of something like this! It was nice volunteering with classmates and making something all together. Everyone took roles and came together to make it happen.” Laila Costo, BSW Student

 

With centers throughout Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, Mission Hope serves more than 1,300 people daily who need essential personal care items like soap, socks, and toothbrushes. "The experience was beautiful," said BSW student Reneesha McNeil. It brought me so much joy that, as a class, we all came together for a cause. It is always a blessing to help others in need."

While packing packets, their professor, Marcheley Adam, Ph.D., LCSW, played a TEDTalk where a young man shared his experience of poverty and how he received aid from his university to escape poverty. 

"I really enjoyed doing this service project. I was so happy to see how many bags we were able to collect for everyone," said BSW student Intressa Amato. "This was actually my favorite part of the semester. It was really nice to see everyone come together."