More than 400 community volunteers will come together, July 28 – 31, to brighten local students’ days by assembling nearly 5,000 Shine Bright hygiene kits at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs.                        

As we prepare for a new school year, thousands of students are lacking essential hygiene items like soap, shampoo, clean clothes and dental products – impacting their health, academics and self-esteem. Each Shine Bright kit contains the full-sized hygiene items these students need to feel confident 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 other local organizations. 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.

“Right now, families across the metro are struggling to make ends meet,” said Shawna Forsberg, president and CEO, United Way of the Midlands. “That means many are having to make tough choices with their finances, often leaving them without essential hygiene products. Together with volunteers and the generous support of local businesses, we are helping students get the items they need so they’re ready to learn and thrive in school.”

Shine Bright is possible thanks to Supporting Sponsors Tim and Terri Burke, CHI Health, GFiber, Google, Mid-America Center, Molina Healthcare, Pella, Werner® and WoodmenLife – along with Community Sponsors Election Systems & Software, Fiserv, Liberty Packaging, T-Mobile Foundation and Wellabe.

Members of the media are invited to attend the Shine Bright event at the Mid-America Center on Wednesday, July 29, from 10:15 – 11: 15 a.m. and 1:15 – 2:15 p.m. That day, Lisa Utterback, Community Services Chief Officer with Omaha Public Schools; Carly Weld, UWM Director of Volunteerism and Shawna Forsberg will all be availablefor interviews.

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 About UWM Volunteerism:

Volunteers are the heartbeat of a strong community. At United Way of the Midlands (UWM), we believe that generosity isn’t about what you have – it’s what you’re willing to share. UWM brings dedicated volunteers together in service through activities across the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro including: Good on the Go, Shine Bright, Day of Caring, Volunteers United and more. Together, these efforts address essential needs, support local nonprofits and inspire a community of neighbors helping neighbors. To learn more, visit UnitedWayMidlands.org/Volunteer.