As Need Increases, United Way Donates Personal Care Items throughout County – Finger Lakes Daily News

17 food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters throughout Cayuga County are benefiting from United Way’s Seventh Annual Countywide Personal Care Drive.

Campaign & Marketing Manager Julisa Stone told Finger Lakes News Radio that 2,300 personal care items, such as soap, laundry detergent, feminine hygiene products, razors, and diapers, will have been sent to the following organizations throughout the county: Brutus-Sennett Food Pantry, Calvary Food Pantry, Chapel House, Cato Food Pantry, Cayuga Community College Food Pantry, Port Byron Food Pantry, Fair Haven Food Pantry, King Ferry Food Pantry, Moravia Hope Food Pantry, Union Springs Food Pantry, Throop Food Pantry, Auburn Rescue Mission, St. Alphonsus Food Pantry, The Salvation Army, CAP DV Shelter, CAP Food Pantry, and Vineyard Food Pantry.

While this number is down from the 5,000 items collected during last year’s drive, Stone said this is still a testament to the Cayuga County community’s generosity.

“Being able to distribute 2,300 items out to food pantries is still a really amazing thing for our community to be able to help us to do.”

While the number of donations has declined, the need for them has risen. Underscoring this, Stone said pantries, including the Student United Way Personal Care Pantry established in 2022 at Auburn High School, are seeing an increase in traffic.

“The need is continuing to grow in our community. More and more people are turning to food pantries for these hygiene items because they’re so expensive.”

United Way is grateful to all those who participated and is already planning to host its Eighth Annual Personal Care Drive, beginning on August 7, 2025. Stone added that those wishing to help can drop off items directly to individual shelters, pantries, or soup kitchens.

Due to struggles being faced by many in the community, United Way has also changed its metrics for its annual fundraising campaign to be more community-focused. The group has set a goal of collecting 2,000 individual donations.

Those wishing to learn more about the United Way’s work can attend the group’s annual meeting taking place Wednesday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn. Registration is required.

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