HARRISBURG — During February, the American Red Cross Serving Central Pennsylvania will be holding its annual Totes of Hope Campaign to assist homeless veterans in central Pennsylvania.
From now through Feb. 18, donations of new basic items like socks, toothbrushes/toothpaste, dental floss, deodorant, liquid soap, hand sanitizer, disposable razors, shaving cream, nail clippers and other personal care items will be collected at all local Red Cross offices. The items will then be packed into a tote or backpack and given to homeless veterans in the central Pennsylvania region.
According to Robert Callender, Service to the Armed Forces manager, American Red Cross, “Our goal for this campaign is to assemble 250 Totes of Hope, which will be distributed to homeless veterans through the outreach programs of the Veterans Hospitals in central Pennsylvania.
“Part of the Red Cross’s Service to the Armed Forces initiative is to assist our veterans, including those without permanent housing. We hope the community will join us in this simple, yet effective outreach program.
“We are pleased to be providing these items to homeless veterans with the help of generous contributions from Nationwide Insurance, the Law Firm of C Neese-Wallace-Nurick and Norfolk Southern Railroad.”
The American Red Cross serves and supports members of the military, veterans, and their families, providing needed emergency communications, comfort and assistance each day.
The Red Cross is offering new assistance to meet today’s needs of military personnel, and that often means remembering the forgotten veterans who are now homeless in the nation.
According to a recent study, more than 20 percent of homeless people are veterans who once served their country. The Totes of Hope campaign continues the Red Cross legacy of helping military men and women right here in the central Pennsylvania.
For more information about the Totes of Hope campaign or for a complete list of desired items, please visit www.redcross.org/centralpa or call Robert Callender at 570-524-0400, Ext 1611.