One of the biggest needs of homeless people is the unseen layer of clothes — socks, underwear, stocking caps, bras and the like.
So, about 20 nursing students at Carroll College — seniors in the Sigma Theta Tau International nursing honor society, plus some alumni — are on a campaign to solicit donations of 1,000 such items and help get them distributed to men, women and children in the community.
Shirts, trousers, coats and even shoes can be picked up inexpensively at a couple of thrift stores in town, but the base layer of clothing is less available and less appealing when it is.
“It’s just nicer to get these things new,” said Ryan Anderton, one of the students.
About 600 people are homeless in the Helena area on a given night, staying in shelters, on friends’ sofas, in motels and improvised camps in the South Hills.
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The future nurses are trying to get the word out, using fliers and the Internet, focusing so far mainly on the Carroll campus, said Mary Brook, the project coordinator.
They’ve already amassed about 250 items, including packages of socks, underwear and T-shirts.
They plan to work with some community groups to get the items where they’re needed. They plan on working with Mike Hankins, who, among other things, connects with homeless veterans in the camps in the hills (and is the husband of Terri John, an administrative specialist in the Nursing Department.)
They also have plans to connect with Mary Larson, a Carroll graduate and nurse in Seattle, who paints portraits of homeless people and then trades the artwork for items to give to people in need.
Brook said people interested in helping should donate items of their own size, as there are homeless people of all sizes.
The students are getting a closer look than they might have previously had at homelessness.
“It really brought to my attention some of the needs there are, and how we can help,” said Kensie Butts, one of the students.
A recent survey of homelessness in Lewis and Clark, Jefferson and Broadwater counties revealed about 700 individual homeless on a particular day in January, said Joe Wojton, of God’s Love shelter, who coordinated the survey.
That’s the largest number yet counted in the area, although it’s not certain if that’s because of more homelessness or better counting. Wojton credits the work of Kala Frantz, an intern and Carroll student, and the work of numerous other local organizations, for a thorough look at the area.
Among the people counted in the surveys, 55 percent identified as male and 43 percent as female. About one-third (233) reported a high school diploma or GED, with 18 people holding an associate’s degree and 12 holding a bachelor’s, Wojton said.
Contributing factors included mental health and substance abuse issues, job loss, domestic violence and physical disabilities.
The nursing students have a goal of 1,000 items by the end of April, but figures on continuing past that date if necessary.
Boxes for drop-off of items are in the Nursing Department on the fourth floor of Simperman Hall; on the main floor of the Campus Center; and in the Base Camp, on Broadway at Last Chance Gulch.
The group will also come pick up items. Contact Brook at mbrook@carroll.edu or 431-5210.
