Hygiene Products Help Lander Families Meet Basic Needs

In Lander, families who rely on federal assistance programs face impossible choices between paying utility bills or rent and purchasing basic hygiene items like soap, toothpaste, and toilet paper. Recent federal budget cuts have strained the First Stop Help Center’s resources, forcing them to direct more fundraised dollars toward keeping lights on and homes heated, which leaves less funding for other necessities. When a long-time board member recognized that families shouldn’t have to choose between electricity and hygiene, she reached out to LOR with a plan to provide essential toiletry items alongside utility assistance. This stopgap measure gives the Help Center time to develop sustainable funding strategies while ensuring Lander residents can maintain health and dignity. The program will distribute hygiene bags containing items like hand soap, laundry detergent, tissues, shampoo, and baby products, reducing disease spread within households while families work toward stability. LOR’s funding will help purchase 350 hygiene bags at approximately $15 each, ensuring basic cleanliness remains accessible to those facing financial hardship.