For many Mercer County residents, the personal care pantry at Catholic Charities West Virginia’s Princeton office provides a vital connection to cleaning and hygiene supplies.
Some of our neighbors have little to no disposable income after they pay rent and bills, and they rely on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits for food. They struggle to purchase personal care products on a regular basis. Being able to visit the pantry helps alleviate some of that stress and restores the dignity of our clients.
“Our pantry clients are treated like friends, and we’ve built many strong relationships over the years,” said Matt Atwood, CCWVa Southern Regional director.
At the pantry, our neighbors can pick up laundry detergent, shaving cream, soap, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, toilet paper, menstrual hygiene products, and baby supplies. While access to these products is important for the overall wellbeing of individuals and communities, they are not always readily available in food pantries. They also cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits. This service helps our neighbors thrive.
Over the past year, 447 households supplemented their resources through the personal care pantry. These supplies benefited more than 1,100 people, including more than 400 children and teens.
“People have called us their angels and talked about what a blessing we are,” Atwood said. “The people we serve are extremely thankful for the assistance.”
Community generosity stocks the personal care pantry in Princeton. Supporters include the Community Foundation of the Virginias, George Cruise Foundation, Princeton Sacred Heart Parish, West Virginia Mothers & Babies Support Program, and several individual donors.
