LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentuckians are getting relief from dangerously cold temperatures, but an organization helping Louisville’s homeless says you should consider donating and volunteering this winter.
Once a week, and for more weeks than she can remember, Paula Radmacher is volunteering at the warehouses at SOS International in Louisville.
“Because this is the best place to be on a Wednesday morning,” Radmacher shared.
Radmacher is sorting a countless number of unused, unopened medical supplies. That’s what SOS does — repurpose medical equipment and ship it all over the world.
When it gets cold, volunteers also assemble personal care kits for Louisville’s homeless residents. The kits include hygiene products, sanitizer, deodorant, body wipes, combs, toothbrushes and toothpaste.
“I know there is toothpaste in here somewhere. I know we have a couple of different kinds of toothpaste,” Radmacher said, searching through a very big box of supplies in the “dental” category.
The personal care kits are put together and then delivered to the organizations that serve vulnerable residents throughout and beyond Jefferson County.
Keeping such products is difficult for someone without a home or regular place to stay. Homeless and houseless residents may only have what they can carry with them at any given moment. Storage, or lack thereof, personal items is always a challenge.
The need for personal items is increasing, says President and CEO of SOS Denise Sears.
“There’s some items we are always running low on because there is such a high demand for them and a way for people to participate, you know, when you’re in the grocery store, pick up a box of bandaids, pick up you know, those little shampoos,” Sears explained.
She says the need is also growing for volunteers to sort and package the kits. During a time when so many Kentuckians are with family, Sears is asking those who ‘have’ to help those who have less. “So when we’re thinking about giving, let’s expand who we are giving to and think about and think about some of those in need,” Sears said.
Call it a good New Year’s resolution, but Sears definitively considers it a call to action. It’s a call Radmacher answers every Wednesday, and then some. “Sometimes even on Saturday. There’s a church group I volunteer with.”
SOS International is located at 1500 Arlington Avenue in Louisville.