On Feb. 20, students from the Undergraduate Student Social Work Association (USSWA) prepared 120 food kits and 120 hygiene kits and distributed them on Feb. 21 for the unhoused community in Reno and Sparks.

The purpose of the USSWA is to educate, train, and nurture competent, committed and compassionate social work leaders who advance the social justice mission of social work through their leadership within the community, according to Alejandra Lopez, senior Social Work and Human Development and Family Sciences double major and president of USSWA.

The “Feeding the Unhoused” project is an annual event organized by the students, aligning with their mission to provide community leadership.

The program’s purpose

Senior Social Work major and Vice President of USSWA, Cera Jackson, explained, “As most of us know there is a large population of unhoused individuals in the Reno-Sparks area, and as future social workers, we felt that it was our duty to serve the greater community and provide hygiene and food packages to those in need.”

She added that hygiene kits are important due to the challenge for people to find temporary housing and the limited availability of shelter resources.

“These kits are an opportunity to refresh some perishables for unhoused individuals,” said junior Social Work major and treasurer for USSWA Greg Hillman.

“The change it makes for the Reno community is that it lets the people who live here know we care about them. It shows empathy and kindness to our unhoused community that they might not see every day,” he explained.

Lopez wanted to continue this annual event as a way to encourage and uplift the unhoused population. “It takes a village to build up and nurture an individual,” she said. Thus, the students got to work creating the kits.

Creation and distribution

The hygiene kits included soap, a toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant. Sandwiches, granola bars, chips, crackers, water and fruit snacks were added to the food bags. After the students prepared these kits, the next day they set off to distribute them in the community.

“I was so surprised at how excited the folks we met were about the kits,” said Hillman.

Lopez shared the same reflection. “Every person had a different story, but all showed the same gratitude and pure joy once they received the kits,” Lopez said.

Some of the places they visited included Dick Taylor Memorial Park, the 4th St. bus station, and the Nevada Cares Campus.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to have University of Nevada, Reno students, the majority being Social Work students, come together to prepare each kit and distribute them around the Reno/Sparks area,” Lopez said.

The Wolfpack impact

Dean and Associate Professor for the School of Social Work Lillian Wichinsky explained her pride in their efforts to support the community.

“It was amazing to watch them create the bags for the homeless; they were heartfelt in their efforts and organized.

“These Social Work students are special, and their caring and empathy goes above and beyond most college students,” she said. “Watching them put this effort together showed me what great professional social workers they will be in the future.”

While many of the students who participated in this event are a part of the Social Work program, the event is open to anyone who wants to participate.

“Our impact on the community is evident in the growing number of volunteers we get each year who have seen us hand out kits and food packages,” said Jackson.

She added, “For people interested in getting involved we highly encourage students and community members to join USSWA so they can get updates on when the event is held again ... Each volunteer who helps prep the bags joins us in distribution through the Reno-Sparks area.”

The Feeding the Unhoused event was impactful on both the community and the students who participated. Lopez shared, “This was a heartfelt movement that I will forever cherish and remember when thinking about the University and USSWA.”