United Way of the Midlands Volunteers to Assemble Nearly 5,000 Shine Bright Kits for Students
Hundreds of community members will come together next Wednesday, August 9, to brighten local students’ days by assembling nearly 5,000 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), the 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.
“In large part due to ongoing high inflation and a lack of affordable housing, one in three families in the metro is struggling to make ends meet,” said Matt Wallen, SVP of Community Investments and Programs at 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 that through our partnerships, we can make sure students have the items they need to regain their confidence and ‘shine bright’ in school.”
Shine Bright is possible thanks to Supporting Sponsors: Google and the Mid-America Center, along with Community Sponsors: Baker’s Supermarkets, City Ventures, Election Systems & Software, Lincoln Financial Group, Penske, Wellabe and Werner.
Members of the media are invited to attend the Shine Bright event at the Mid-America Center on Wednesday August 9, between 9 a.m. – Noon and 1 – 3 p.m. That day, Stephanie Hoesing, Supervisor of Social Work for Omaha Public Schools and Matt Wallen will be available for interviews from 11:15 a.m. – Noon, and Tim Hamilton, Chief of Student Family Services for Council Bluffs Public Schools will be available for interviews from 1 – 1:30 p.m.
About United Way of the Midlands
For 100 years, United Way of the Midlands (UWM) has served the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro by bringing together the business and not-for-profit sectors to create a Circle of Support that helps our neighbors overcome difficult challenges and start building a better future. UWM’s funded programs and direct services address social and economic disparities and meet families’ essential needs such as healthy food, safe and stable housing, physical and mental health services, career preparation and job training. For more information, visit UnitedWayMidlands.org.