Contact: Greta Walker 303.618.4004 GWalker@denrescue.org Alexxa Tavlarides 720.201.2776 ATavlarides@denrescue.org
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
URGENT NEED: HYGIENE ITEMS FOR HOMELESS POPULATION Denver Rescue Mission Distributes Thousands of Hygiene Items Each Year Monday, May 16, 2011 (DENVER) - The Denver Rescue Mission (DRM) has an urgent need for hygiene items for homeless and low-income men, women and children. More specifically, the DRM is asking for diapers of all sizes to be donated along with baby wipes and baby formula. Already, 25,941 diapers have been collected, 22,043 have been distributed to the Ministry Outreach Center (MOC), 3,526 to the DRM Lawrence Shelter and 372 to the Harvest Farm. In 2008-2009 there were a total of 60,830 diapers distributed among the DRM facilities. Every location receives a certain number of diapers based on the greatest demand of need for these items. Although every year varies with what exactly families need, the DRM can only distribute what we receive and we can never have too many donations. Urgent help is needed now more than ever as donations of hygiene items are down. The differences in numbers of diapers distributed between the years are due primarily the number of donated items received and also, the sizes of the donated diapers. Although the DRM gladly accepts all sizes, the ones more frequently requested from the homeless and low-income families are the larger size diapers such as sizes 4 – 6 and pullups. Over 60,000 hygiene items are handed out to individuals and families in need through the DRM’s emergency services program, long-term transitional and permanent housing facilities, and through Client Services. Client Services handles approximately 13,000 visits each year, and is a one-on-one, short-term case management service offering emergency, physical and spiritual support to individuals and families. Items can be dropped off at the Denver Rescue Mission’s Lawrence Street Shelter, 1130 Park Avenue West in Denver (corner of Park Ave. West and Lawrence Street). These are basic supplies that can make a difference in the way a homeless person feels about themselves. It is important to feel clean and confident when making that first step towards a new life. ABOUT THE DENVER RESCUE MISSION Since 1892, the Denver Rescue Mission has been meeting the needs of the poor and homeless through emergency services, rehabilitation, transitional and permanent housing, and community outreach. For more information, please visit www.DenverRescueMission.org.
###