This article is written by Tim Johnson. It was posted on nonpareilonline.com, April 8, 2018.
Boys Town Iowa kicked off its Healthy Families Drive last week to help southwest Iowa families the agency serves.
The Red Team, led by the Council Bluffs Fire Department, and the Blue Team, led by the Council Bluffs Police Department, will compete to see who can collect the most toiletries and household items. Kickoffs were held Thursday at Roosevelt Elementary School for Team Red and Friday at Wilson Middle School for Team Blue, a press release from Boys Town Iowa stated.
Last year, the Red Team hauled in 3,600 pounds of goods, easily topping the Blue Team, which gathered 2,100 pounds.
Many other organizations are also participating in the drive, including the Council Bluffs Community School District, Iowa Western Community College, CHI Health Mercy Hospital, Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital and Google, the press release stated.
Boys Town is asking for new and unopened packages of shampoo and conditioner, hand and bar soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes, unscented deodorant, feminine hygiene products, lotion, disposable razors, toilet paper, paper towels, facial tissue, laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaners, glass cleaner, dishwasher detergent, rags and sponges, buckets, bathroom cleaners, sanitizer, diapers and baby wipes, baby bottles and sippy cups, child-proofing accessories, bug bombs and ant traps.
Both teams have collection boxes at local Hy-Vee Food Stores, Hy-Vee Drugstore, The Center, city fire stations and the Council Bluffs Police Department. The winner will be announced after a weigh-off on May 3 at the Boys Town Iowa office at 1702 W. Broadway.
