Mothers who are victims of domestic abuse or homeless will have a sweeter Easter this year with the arrival of student-made care packages.
ASU students helped assemble the packages on Tuesday at the ASU Wells Fargo Student Center on the Downtown Phoenix campus.
Edyth Haro, program assistant for the Department of Student Engagement, said the packages will be given to 75 mothers at Homeward Bound, an organization for families who are victims of domestic violence and homeless.
“[The people at Homeward Bound] said they have some Easter baskets for the children, but the moms weren’t really getting anything,” said Haro, a recreation and tourism management senior.
The packages are aimed to pamper the mothers and include nail polish, lotion, lip gloss, tea packages and candy, Haro said.
“We’re also making them cards, and students can write personal messages,” she said.
During the event, students chose from a variety of bags, cards and toiletries for the packages.
Small notebooks, key chains and puzzles were also available to be added to the bags.
Haro said Homeward Bound was chosen because it was something different, and students could become aware of the organization.
“Maybe they’ll want to get themselves involved with [Homeward Bound],” she said. “It’s not that far from the Downtown campus if they want to volunteer.”
It’s always important to lend a helping hand in a time of need, she said.
“I just want to make sure students still have opportunities to get involved even with their busy lives,” Haro said.
Meredith Rhoda, community resource coordinator for Homeward Bound, said this event helped to bring awareness to the huge problem of domestic violence and homelessness.
“It shows the moms that people care and that the students want to help and support them,” Rhoda said.
Aldo Gonzalez, a nursing junior who helped assemble packages, said that mothers tend to be forgotten.
“I think it’s a good idea to help pamper them a little bit,” Gonzalez said. “A little deed like this could brighten up their day.”
Public relations freshman Paige Soucie said this event shows how ASU wants to get involved with the community and how it’s trying to bring in students from the Downtown campus.
“It’s a great idea to help these women who are trying to get their lives back on track and who are also trying to help their children,” Soucie said.
Reach the reporter at charlsy.panzino@asu.edu.
