More than 450 community members will come together, August 5-8, to brighten local students’ days by assembling more than 5,100 Shine Bright Kits at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs.

Right now, thousands of students across the metro are lacking essential hygiene items like soap, shampoo, conditioner, clean clothes and dental products – impacting their health, academics and confidence. Each Shine Bright Kit contains the full-sized hygiene items these students need to feel good and succeed in the classroom and in life.

Shine Bright is a partnership between United Way of the Midlands (UWM), Omaha and Council Bluffs Public Schools, Papillion LaVista Schools, JAG Nebraska and others. With the community’s support, Shine Bright partners will distribute the assembled Shine Bright Kits to Kindergarten, sixth- and ninth-grade students in need throughout the community and to JAG Nebraska students across the state.  

“In large part due to a lack of affordable housing and one of the highest percentages of working poor in the country, families across the metro are truly struggling to make ends meet,” said Shawna Forsberg, president and CEO, UWM. “That means many families are having to make tough choices with their finances, leaving them without hygiene products like soap or dental products. We are proud we can help students get the items they need to regain their confidence and ‘shine bright’ in school.”

Shine Bright is possible thanks to Supporting Sponsors: Google, Wells Fargo and the Mid-America Center, along with Community Sponsors: Election Systems & Software, Lincoln Financial Group, Metropolitan Utilities District, Nebraska Furniture Mart, Penske, Wellabe and Werner.

Members of the media are invited to attend the Shine Bright event at the Mid-America Center on Tuesday, August 6, between 1 – 3 p.m. That day, Matthew Ray, superintendent for Omaha Public Schools, will be available for interviews from 1 – 2 p.m.; Tim Hamilton, Chief of Student Family Services and Heidi Klement, Student Navigator, both with Council Bluffs Public Schools and Shawna Forsberg will be available for interviews from 1 – 2:30 p.m.

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 About United Way of the Midlands: Since 1923, United Way of the Midlands (UWM) has served the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro by bridging the business and not-for-profit sectors and raising money to support our community’s most impactful health and human service programs. UWM’s funded programs and direct services – like 211 and JAG Nebraska – focus on four key areas to improve health and well-being for all, build financial stability and strength, help young people realize their full potential and address urgent needs today to advance a better tomorrow. Learn more at UnitedWayMidlands.org.