Lindenhurst 6th Grader Helps Abused and Homeless Women

Hailey’s Bags for Dignity

It all started on Thanksgiving Day when Hailey Vazquez, a Lindenhurst 6th grader wanted to do something to help those who need it most during the holiday season. So her mother and her got the idea from a friend in Australia to create “Dignity Bags” And that was the start of “Hailey’s Bags for Dignity”

The original goal was to collect 50 pocketbooks/handbags and fill them with items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, sanitary napkins and other toiletries or small travel size items that a woman could use. Hailey developed a Facebook page and invited all her mother’s friends and her family. Then she called up a couple of local businesses and asked if they would be drop off points for the donated bags and supplies.

Drop off points are the following gracious businesses…...

Phountain Health in Lindenhurst at 19 Sunrise Highway in Lindenhurst

Sherry’s Health Food Market at 89 Deer Park ave. in Babylon Village

The Fit Zone Gym 672 Wellwood Ave in Lindenhurst

Facebook MESSAGE:

Do you have a spare pocketbook or handbag at home that you don’t use anymore? It does NOT have to be new!!! I’m trying to get 50 bags made up and asking my friends & family on FB for help in doing this. If you fill it with some kind of sanitary items, small items or perfume, nail polish, small pack of tissues etc. (even trial sized things you have laying around), I will make sure it’s passed on to women in need this Christmas. December 11th is your cut-off date to ensure I can get your donated bag to the women in need for Christmas. What you put in your bag is only limited to your imagination and bag size. It’s your special gift to a woman in need. Only thing I’m not allowing is please, no food, alcohol or medications in any of the bags except gum or mints which are allowable.

Remember all bags have to be dropped off to me (or drop off points) by December 11th. I appreciate everyone who will drop a bag off and I’m sure the woman that receives your bag will appreciate it too. We are all women. We should all work together to pick each other up at low points in all of our lives whether anything like homelessness, domestic violence, unemployment or poverty intrudes in our lives. This could mean the world to a woman out there. Make yours for her special. Please feel free to share my post as much as you can as December 11th is only 3weeks away…

THE OUTCOME WAS AMAZING!

Several people in the community came together and Hailey collected 116 bags of dignity. She also was given a donation of bags filled with trial size toiletries and cosmetics from Ulta and Dental Hygiene supplies from Hygienist Julia Cuccaros and her Girl Scout Troop 324.

Others who have donated are: AnnMarie Lorenze (Bobby Brown Master Make-up Artist), Mrs. Milano & Mrs. Henseley (Nurses at William Rall Elementary), Alicia Szynklarz (Ulta), Ty & Glenn (Phontain Health in Lindenhurst), Dave & Penny (Sherry’s Health Food Store in Babylon), Long Island Head Start Policy Counsel in Patchogue, JoAnn Pignataro, Denise (Fitzone Gym in Lindenhurst), Margaret MacIntosh and many, many community members who dropped off at the drop-off zones.

Hailey’s Bags for Dignity will be dropping off all that was collected tomorrow, Monday December 21st at 6 pm to the organization leader Michael at the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless.