Fond du Lac -
A local fundraiser to help the homeless is struggling to pick up steam this year.
"Help for the Homeless" is an annual collection drive in Northeast Wisconsin. Hygiene products like toothpaste, soap, laundry detergent and other items are collected and then distributed to different agencies and shelters in the area.
"These people come to these places with nothing and we, through this drive, are able to provide them with a toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, shampoo things that we as individual who are working with regular incomes take for granted," says Denise Shaffer from The Salvation Army in Fond du Lac.
But for a drive that started last month, collections boxes aren't very full.
Shaffer says, "Things are going really slowly. I don't know what's happening up the valley, but here in Fond du Lac our boxes are practically empty."
And empty boxes means the agencies that benefit from "Help for the Homeless" would have to buy supplies on their own, something that is not always possible since food, clothing, and shelter are their top priorities.
"It would cost probably thousand and thousands of dollars and that would cut into our budget of supplying other things," says Roxanne Burkhardt from Solutions Center, another benefiting agency.
And and that's why the benefiting agencies are hoping people will open up their hearts and wallets to help.
"This is how we get our supplies is from the public and we really need them to step up and help us," says Burkhardt.
Time is running out to donate. The collection ends on Sunday, collection boxes will be picked up on Monday before the items are distributed to the agencies in need.
