Women United of Lake County Donates 450 Gallons of Hand Sanitizer

United Way of Lake County’s Women United recently donated 450 gallons of hand sanitizer to Waukegan Public Schools and several local nonprofits serving those struggling with basic needs during the COVID-19 crisis. After receiving an anonymous donation of nine 50-gallon drums of hand sanitizer, Women United quickly mobilized a team of volunteers to pour, cap, label, box, and deliver nearly two tons of hand sanitizer. United Conveyor Corporation generously provided warehouse space, expertise and equipment to aid in the effort.

"We are pleased to mobilize our membership for this project that gets hard-to-find hand sanitizer in the hands of Lake County nonprofits and residents," said Diana Nielander, manager of Women United. "As a result, Northern Illinois Food Bank, Catholic Charities, Waukegan Public Schools, ElderCare and others have hand sanitizer to use while delivering critical programs and can offer it to their clients. We are very proud to be able to serve in this way."

“Our food distribution staff have sorted and delivered more than half a million meals to date,” said Carolina Fabian, Family and Community Engagement Coordinator for Waukegan Public Schools. “These are our front-line workers who must deliver meals twice a week. Because they are so exposed, there is great importance on hand sanitizing. The extra hand sanitizer is an added measure to keep everyone healthy. We are extremely grateful Women United thought of us and shared a limited resource in this great time of need.”

About United Way of Lake County
At United Way of Lake County, we believe that preparing children to thrive in school is the best way to disrupt the cycle of poverty. That's why we engage in activities that are ensuring children are ready for their first day of school, building children's early literacy skills, helping youth overcome barriers to high school graduation, and empowering families to develop a strong foundation for their child's future success. Last fall, United Way of Lake County launched 211, a free, confidential, 24-hour information and referral helpline, connecting individuals and families in Lake County to essential health and human services, to improve and save lives.

Through the support of our partners and supporters, we are transforming communities by delivering programs that are timely, effective, and scalable, with results we can measure. For more information, visit www.LIVEUNITEDlakecounty.org.

About Women United of Lake County
Women United is Lake County's premier women's organization for strengthening the community through philanthropy, leadership, and volunteerism while creating a meaningful sense of belonging. We are a robust network of more than 100 women who enable each other to leverage our passions, ideas, expertise, and resources to ensure children living in Lake County's most vulnerable communities are prepared for kindergarten and ready to succeed. Women United is a critical community within United Way of Lake County.

For more information, visit www.LIVEUNITEDlakecounty.org/wu.