Commerce Bank, United Way celebrate Home Sweet Home donation drive

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- Commerce Bank and United Way of Greater St. Joseph celebrated its Home Sweet Home Houseware donation drive to help those in need of household items.

From Aug. 31 to Sept. 25, the community was invited to donate household items for those in need. Some of the items included were bedding, towels, laundry detergent and more.

Home Sweet Home Donation Drive celebrates Commerce’s renovated 36th and Frederick branch which is a milestone for the branch.

"It reflects our commitment to the St. Jo. community, and we thought, hey, what a great opportunity to do something good," Brendon Clark, president of the St. Joseph market, said. "Make a positive impact in our community by asking our customers and community members to donate household items to support United Way."

United Way’s housewares room is in need of items, so the donation is a welcome contribution.

"It's not something that exist all of time. Our houseware room really just depends on the flow of these new household donations. Sometimes it go some stuff in it, sometimes it doesn't," Kylee Strough, president of United Way of Greater St. Joseph said.

Strough said some of the items may seem like basic necessities to some people, but for someone just starting out, they are things they may not have access to.

"They might not be bringing from their previous place especially if they we're staying somewhere like a shelter," Strough said. "A lot of times we talk to households and case workers where the family has used all the available funds they have to really get into the door."

Clark said the community response to houseware drive has been great.

"People have been excited to bring different items in, and really kind of just increase awareness for the need of these items that United Way has requested. I think a lot people feel good about bringing items in, and kind of donating to the cause, and helping out their neighbor," he said.

The donation helps remove essential items from someone’s list, which can make a big difference.

"If we can help take care of some of these things, and check them off the list then they don't have to worry about it," she said. "It overall helps their mental health their physical health and general well being."

All the items will help support people transitioning into stable housing, recovering from emergencies and facing other difficult circumstances.