Alachua Youth Council and Dollar General partner for ‘Restoring Dignity’ - Donation Support Students in Need

ALACHUA ‒ A local group of concerned and community-minded high school students are making a difference this holiday season. The City of Alachua Youth Advisory Council (YAC) members discovered an unmet need among their fellow students at Alachua’s Santa Fe High School.

In cooperation with the Santa Fe High School nurse, the YAC learned there are students coming to school who are in need of basic hygienic supplies. YAC members were deeply concerned about their fellow students and sought to find a way to help them out and at the same time restore their dignity.

YAC members devised a plan to elicit help from the community to collect items most in need. The group organized “Restoring Dignity – One Wellness Packet at a Time,” a collection drive for items such as deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, bar soap, underwear and socks.

A number of businesses established drop off locations for donated supplies, and while many individuals and businesses have supported the students in the efforts, one local business has stepped forward with a large donation of supplies.

Each year the YAC takes a City-sponsored tour of Alachua. This year’s tour of Alachua included the Dollar General Distribution Center. Upon hearing of the students’ Restoring Dignity Project, Dollar General’s Matthew Lillard worked with Dollar General Headquarters and Alachua Deputy City Clerk and YAC advisor LeAnne Williams to procure a donation.

On Thursday, Dec. 15, YAC students gathered at the Dollar General Distribution Center to take possession of thousands of donated items valued at some $3,000 for delivery to Alachua City Hall.

“In living out Dollar General’s mission of Serving Others, we are proud to have donated more than 2,600 personal hygiene items—including socks, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste and soap— to support the Restoring Dignity project and students at Santa Fe High School,” shared Peter Torres, Dollar General’s senior director of DG’s Alachua distribution center. “We are grateful for our partnership with the City as we are committed to giving back to our Alachua neighbors in need especially during the holiday season.”

All collected items will be packaged by the YAC and placed with the Santa Fe High School nurse.

Businesses that have partnered with the YAC by volunteering to be drop off locations for the supplies will continue to receive items through the months of December and January. These locations are:

• Alachua City Hall
• Alachua Family Eye Care
• Decades on Main (High Springs)
• Douglas M. Adel, DDS, P.A. (Alachua)
• China Express (Alachua)
• Great Clips (Alachua)
• HCA Florida Hospital (Gainesville)
• Hitchcock’s Markets Pharmacy Desk (Alachua)
• Infinite Wellness Gym (Alachua)
• New York Pizza Plus (Rolling Oaks Plaza)
• O2B Kids (Alachua)
• Publix (Alachua)
• Santa Fe High School Guidance Office (Alachua)
• Tony & Al’s Deli (Alachua)
• Walgreens (Alachua)

The YAC serves as advocates for issues and initiatives to positively impact the lives of youth, discusses issues and offers suggestions for improvement to benefit youth in the community.

YAC members must be enrolled in a public school, private school or a home education program within the City of Alachua in grades nine through 12 or must be a City of Alachua resident enrolled in a public school, private school or a home education program in grades nine through 12 that is not within the City of Alachua's corporate limits.

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