Special to IFN

Thanks to a partnership with The Kindness Closet, Iredell-Statesville Schools has received a generous donation of 12,458 hygiene products to support students experiencing homelessness.

The donated items, valued at $25,000, include personal hygiene kits for elementary, middle, and high school students, as well as feminine hygiene products.

Earlier this month, I-SS drivers picked up the donated supplies and began delivering them to school sites across the district. Each hygiene kit is thoughtfully packaged to fit discreetly into a student’s backpack, ensuring students can take home essential supplies with privacy.

The impactful program began in January with a collaborative effort between the I-SS social work team and Anne Mautner from The Kindness Closet. Together with the district’s drivers and couriers, they worked to identify students’ needs, plan logistics, and coordinate distribution across all schools.

The initiative was funded through The Kindness Closet’s participation in the 2025 Love United Iredell campaign, where nearly $6,000 was raised from the community to directly support students facing housing instability.

“We are incredibly grateful for The Kindness Closet’s commitment to our students,” said Jessica Smith, director of Student Services and Family Support. ”This project not only meets a critical need but also shows our students that their community cares deeply about their well-being.”

LEARN MORE

To learn more about the Love United Iredell campaign and The Kindness Closet’s work, visit Love United Iredell and The Kindness Closet Project Video.