UA Little Rock Students Begin Drive to Stock Socks and Soap for Homeless

The Bags of Hope drive ends on Nov. 18. Students in the School of Social Work at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock are leading the effort to gather hygiene products for people experiencing homelessness. They are working with The Van, a local nonprofit based in Little Rock.

Ahmed Alnomani, Leah Beaumont, Jasmine Kearney, and Trinity Louden are organizing the collection. Grace Maddox supports the project through her internship with The Van. Maddox has helped with outreach, sorted donations, and prepared supplies for distribution. She said the work showed her the value of building relationships rather than just providing supplies.

Alnomani noted that hygiene products are often overlooked as winter approaches. He said a dry pair of socks can make a real difference in someone's day. Louden said the drive aims to recognize the dignity of those facing homelessness. She stated that everyone deserves to be seen and cared for, and that it is easy to look past people struggling right in front of us.

The Van serves people experiencing homelessness in Pulaski County. The organization provides seasonal essentials like coats and blankets, but hygiene items remain a constant need. Kearney described the drive as a way for the community to provide resources to individuals who deserve the same compassion and dignity as anyone else.

The most-needed items include socks, gloves, underwear, bar soap, menstrual products, and Neosporin. Other requested donations include hand warmers, oral hygiene products, hair care items, deodorant, lotion, lip balm, wet wipes, bandages, antibacterial soap, hand sanitizer, flashlights, sunscreen, and batteries.

Donations can be dropped off at three campus locations: the School of Social Work on the fourth floor of Ross Hall, the main lobby of Ottenheimer Library, and the main lobby of the School of Nursing. Additional boxes are available at local businesses in Little Rock and Bryant.

Community members can find drop-off locations on the Bags of Hope link page or purchase items from the Amazon wish list. For questions about the drive, people can email the organizers. More information about The Van is available at itsthevan.org.