Paul Kagebein and Romeo Lopez delivered donations from the community in last year’s drive.
By Erin Baber
The Garland County Library will collect items for a “Warm and Well Donation Drive” from December 1, 2023, to January 31, 2024. Donations will be delivered to local organizations to distribute as they see fit.
Items focusing on warmth and wellness, especially, are sought for this drive. Warm items include blankets, coats, gloves, hats, scarves, sleeping bags, tents, and similar items. Wellness items include toothpaste, soaps, shampoo, mouthwash, deodorant, chapstick, and more.
Adult Services Specialist Paul Kagebein said, “Last year, thanks to the generosity of the patrons who make up our community, we collected about 750 donations (and probably more than that since that figure includes some bulk and bundled wellness items). We were able to distribute all of them to local nonprofits as well as directly to some of our patrons.
“This year, we are accepting donations in both December and January. I believe continuing the drive into the new year is important because – and I have been guilty of this myself – charitability tends to take a break for a little bit after the holidays have ended. However, it’s important to remember that in Arkansas our coldest days and weeks each year are usually after the new year has started and so the community’s needs carry on.”
Learn all about the library’s services and offerings at www.gclibrary.com, call 501-623-4161, or visit the library in person at 1427 Malvern Avenue in Hot Springs.
Erin Baber is Library Marketing Manager at the Garland County Library.
