News file photo Representatives from area schools and the Foster Closet are seen picking up hygiene items for youth that were collected during the 2nd Annual Dignity Drive in 2025.

Laurel Nowak invites the community to participate in the third annual Dignity Drive from Monday to March 6.

Donations can be dropped off at Star Staffing located in Alpena from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Dignity Drive asks community members to donate personal hygiene products for the youth in Northeast Michigan. Nowak said last year, the drive collected $10,000 worth of hygiene products which were provided to the School Success Program at Thunder Bay Jr. High School and Alpena High School. Products were also donated to the Foster Care Closet of Northern Michigan.

Nowak said that all partners were “grateful for the commitment of our community to children in need.”

“We were also able to provide a box to all of the area elementary schools,” she added.

“Personal hygiene is a basic human need,” Nowak said. “Many homeless and low-income children do not have the hygiene products they need for self-care. This causes many problems such as social rejection, illnesses and missed days of school.”

Items for both boys and girls are accepted, though Nowak asks community members to avoid donations of razors.

Below are a list of accepted donations:

— Feminine hygiene products

— Deodorant

— Body spray

— String bags or ditty bags

— Body or hand lotion

— Lip balm

— Soap

— Shampoo and conditioner

— Toothpaste

— Toothbrushes

If you are looking for additional information you can contact Nowak at 989-464-5968.