By Patrick Dobyns, Editor, Interview by Bean Gast, Staff Writer
During the Spring semester of 2025, the Cultivating Community Committee (C3) hosted a drive to collect period hygiene items, donating them to the Knoxville Family Justice Center. Hosted during Women’s History Month, this drive was a way to get less considered items to women who were victims of abuse and sexual assault. The Knoxville Family Justice Center helps these women to escape these situations, but, oftentimes, people don’t think to bring certain items with them—soaps, shampoos, tampons, pads—small things that people really don’t think about when they’ve just gotten out of hell. These products were collected through donations and those who are receiving aid from the Center get access to them. It’s a small gesture, but one that means the world to those who need it.
Starting in October, the Fall Hygiene Drive will continue this effort, expanding from feminine hygiene to all hygiene products. The C3 encourages people to consider what kinds of things you’d need for extended trips; in addition to period products, items such as bar soaps, wet and dry shampoos, deodorant, lotion, laundry detergent, and baby wipes (travel and average sizes) are products that are most helpful to the drive. While there is no set date for the drive to begin yet, you’ll know it’s started when you see donation boxes throughout all Pellissippi State Community College campuses.
There are a few considerations the C3 asks people to keep in mind for the drive. They request that donated items be new and unopened—while it’s not a requirement, it isn’t very pleasant going through used hygiene products, and stores such as Dollar Tree have inexpensive items. They also ask donors to keep in mind who might be using these products. Some people may have certain sensitivities, and heavily perfumed items could cause bad reactions. Products with alcohol, such as mouthwash, are specifically asked to be avoided. Lastly, one consideration that can easily be forgotten is the fact that some people require different kinds of products based on their ethnicity. Shampoo is a big one there, so please donate items for specific hair types if you can!
When the Knoxville Family Justice Center receives donations during this time of year (Fall and Winter), they’re typically holiday donations and festive food items. While this is very appreciated, the smaller things are often forgotten. It’s an easy thing to do, of course. In our own daily lives, we don’t think about toilet paper or toothpaste. And when we think of people in dire situations who have little to nothing, our first thoughts are of food and water. When asked what the mission of the drive was, C3 Co-Chair Joyce Garcia stated: “Awareness. Awareness of things we don’t think about. What we take for granted is a luxury to someone else. It doesn’t have to be something grand. It’s the little things, it’s the deodorant, it’s the toothbrush.”
For those who are interested in helping in a more direct way, you can send a message to ccc@pstcc.edu and ask to volunteer. Student participation is still in the works, however, and there are still some details that haven’t been cemented yet. Further information will be released on the Pellissippi State website when it is available. Once it starts sometime in October, it will continue for the rest of the Fall Semester.
