Scarlett Aeckerle, a Professor of Social Work teaching at both Roberts Wesleyan and SUNY Brockport, has a big heart for helping those in need. In 2017 Scarlett and her graduate students of Social Work at SUNY Brockport performed a needs assessment in the city of Rochester as part of their graduate work. They realized that the public assistance programs (SNAP) do not cover basic hygiene items like toilet paper, cleaning products, sanitary products, and hygiene necessities. “This is a basic health issue that is not just limited to the city but affects all areas. The Brockport community has one of the highest rates of poverty in the county outside of the city,” said Scarlett.
Upon identifying this gap in basic personal hygiene resources, Scarlett began a Hygiene Bank in the Brockport area with the support of LINC (Lutheran Intercity Network Coalition). The Hygiene Bank had its first distribution in March of 2017 at Concordia Lutheran Church. Scarlett had the support of the church, LINC, and volunteers from the church as well as her college students. The first distribution event provided hygiene items to eleven families. It soon grew to serve more than 100 families every other month. Pastor Triplett of Concordia Lutheran Church was a big supporter of the program. He retired last year, leading to a transition in the church. As the church came under new ownership and leadership, Scarlett had to pause the hygiene bank, packing it up into storage until she could find a new home for it.
Jackie Smith, County Legislator for the Hamlin, Clarkson, and Sweden areas, recognized the importance of having this hygiene bank in the community and helped by connecting Scarlett to Pastor Emilio Sebastian of Jubilee Christian Church in Clarkson.
Scarlett met with Pastor Emilio to discuss the possibility of Jubilee Church being the new home for this program. “The hygiene bank fit right into our vision of helping the community however we can,” said Pastor Emilio. They decided to try hosting the hygiene bank at Jubilee Church to see if it was a good fit as far as community support, availability of volunteers, and need. The first distribution was held on September 11, 2021, and served 50 families from the area. More than 100 families were supported at the next event in November. “Having the Hygiene Bank at Jubilee was very well received. They bent over backwards to make this happen and make us feel so welcome,” said Scarlett.
The new name is “The Community Hygiene Bank of Jubilee.” It provides hygiene items every other month by way of a Blessing Bag. Fifteen core items are in the personal care Blessing Bag. Families and individuals from the community, including college students who have need, can contact the Hygiene Bank. An intake is done to help tailor items to their needs. Items including soap, adult diapers, women’s sanitary products, razors, deodorant, bathing items, paper products, oral hygiene, laundry detergent, cleaning products, and more are available.
According to Scarlett, this faith-based ministry frequently sees miracles of God’s hand. “We bless people with essential items, pray with people and become the hands and feet of Christ,” she said. “We have helped widows, families with newborn babies, rural farmworkers, and anyone with need. We love them and show them dignity and respect.”
Pastor Emilio agrees that the Hygiene Bank not only blesses the community, but is blessing him and his church. “Having Scarlett bring the hygiene bank here and being a part of this has been such a blessing, seeing everyone work together to help the community. We are called to have compassion and make a difference (referencing Jude 1:22),” said Pastor Emilio.
Scarlett was recently named the recipient of the 2022 Monika W. Andrews Creative Volunteer Leadership Award for her deep connection to the community in creating responsive programs like the hygiene bank and her involvement in other community outreach programs.
The hygiene bank is now facing significantly increasing costs of hygiene items. Rising prices have more than doubled the cost of the distribution event. What once cost the hygiene bank $1,500 per distribution now costs nearly $4,000 per distribution. The Community Hygiene Bank of Jubilee is actively seeking donations and volunteers to continue to grow to meet the needs of people in the community.
The Community Hygiene Bank runs in January, February, March, May, September, and November. It does not run over the summer, but items are available on an emergency basis.
The next distribution event is Saturday, May 7, from noon to 2 p.m., with curbside pickup at 3565 Lake Road North (Rt. 19). Register to receive a Blessing Bag personalized for your needs by contacting the church at 585-637-8530 or emailing communityhygienebank@
jubileechristianny.org.
Contact the church or visit their Facebook page to learn more about the Hygiene Bank, to volunteer, donate items, or learn how to receive items. Volunteers and donors enable the Community Hygiene Bank of Jubilee to help those in the community meet basic needs for cleaning supplies and personal care items.
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