For the fifth year, the Kansas City Public Library’s AmeriCorps VISTA Project is collecting donations of travel-sized personal care items for a hygiene kit drive as part of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service.

And Kansas Citians can help.

From January 2-11, 2024, all 10 Kansas City Public Library locations will accept donated supplies in designated bins.

Accepted items include:  

• Shampoo  
• Body wash and soap 
• Toothbrushes and toothpaste 
• Deodorant 
• Washcloths 
• Combs and hairbrushes 
• Nail clippers 
• Adhesive bandages 
• Razors 
• Lip balm 
• Hand sanitizer 
• Laundry detergent (small or sample sized)
• Lotion 
• Baby wipes 
• Q-tips 

AmeriCorps members will assemble donated items into kits by January 16, including a copy of the award-winning Street Sheet. Hygiene supplies will be available at library branches.

The MLK Day of Service is a defining moment each year when Americans across the country step up to make communities more equitable, underpin racial equity, expand civic opportunities, and foster respect for individual differences. Citizens take action to build the community of Dr. King’s dream.

In lieu of, or in addition to, supplies, the Library will also accept financial contributions so that the team at the Library can fill in the gaps from the donations. Donate at https://kclibrary.org/support/give and include 2024 Hygiene Drive in the comment box at the bottom or on the memo line of a check.

AmeriCorps is a federal agency that leads the annual MLK National Day of Service, working with The King Center, thousands of nonprofit groups, faith-based organizations, schools, and businesses nationwide.

Projects include delivering meals, refurbishing schools and community centers, collecting food and clothing, signing up mentors, reading to children, promoting nonviolence, and more. The MLK Day of Service shines a spotlight on service as a powerful force to bridge economic and social divides – today and throughout the year.

Many communities also will engage in dialogue about ways they can address important issues. National Days of Service provide each of us with an opportunity to join neighbors and local leaders to tackle community challenges and strengthen the nation.

For more information about the MLK Day of Service, visit AmeriCorps.gov/MLKDay.