Before Crossroads Community Action’s Family Outreach Program Director Tiffany Ross and her team opened the hygiene closet on Wednesday morning, there were already 40 families lined up outside and waiting.

“This closet gives people the resources to be more self-sufficient and to be able to take care of their families,” Ross said.

The second Wednesday of every month from 10 a.m. to noon, low-income families, unaccompanied youth, veterans and elderly residents come to the Crossroads Community Action’s office at 4007 Halsey Street to gather the essential hygiene products they need.

The plastic wheels of suitcases scrape against the linoleum flooring as some residents entered the door. They walk in from off the street or catch city transit in order to get essential items such as pads and tampons.

As many know, personal care items can be expensive. Crossroads Community Action hopes that by offering hygiene products, low-income families can save their money for other necessities.

“This closet is so important to help people get the things they need for day-to-day life,” Brianna Stovall, case manager at Crossroads Community Action, said. “There are not many hygiene closets in the area.”

Everything from body soap, cotton swabs and toilet wipes to laundry detergent, denture cleaning solution to feminine care products such as pads and tampons lined the shelves for those in need.

“Detergent, bug spray and dish soap go fast,” Ross said.

When the closet originally started last May, it averaged serving about 30 residents at a time, and predominately served individuals and the elderly. Now a year later, Ross is seeing more and more families, veterans and unaccompanied minors come in to the hygiene closet.

Last month, 130 families benefited from the hygiene closet, and that’s a number Ross anticipates growing in the future. Each month, more and more residents are utilizing the hygiene closet, especially those under the age of 30.

The closet is funded by community donations and organizations such as Superior Healthplan to ensure that residents are not only feeling clean themselves but are able to live in a clean, sanitary environment as well.

“The community tells us what they need such as eyeglass cleaner and denture cream,” Ross said. “Local healthcare providers have also donated adult incontinence products as well to help ensure the shelves stay stocked.”

When residents walk into the office, they fill out a sheet about their household and their hygiene needs. Through the closet, they are able to pick out 10 items. They fill out a form requesting toilet brushes, toothpaste, flushable wipes, lip balm, razors, full-body wipes and much more. Workers then pack a bag full of their requested items.

“We started the closet giving out a max of 20 items per family, but due to the increased need, we’ve had to cut it back to 10 items,” Ross said.

Residents can donate items or money to the hygiene closet by visiting Crossroads Community Action’s office at 4007 Halsey Street or by visiting online at https://crossroadsca.org/.