The Sedalia-Pettis County United Way, in coordination with the Pettis County Community Partnership (PCCP), is still collecting donations for their “Cram the Closet” event until Saturday, July 30. Cram the Closet is an initiative that helps meet the needs of county residents who are struggling financially by filling the Community Closet with home, hygiene and childcare products.

Items sought for the Community Closet include diapers, wipes, paper products, hygiene products and household cleaning products. These items help individuals care for their children, hygiene and to gain employment.

“We’ve been at this for about two and a half weeks now,” said Staci Harrison, Executive Director of the Sedalia-Pettis County United Way. “The new car dealers graciously said, ‘We will be the next challenge for Cram the Closet.’ So, all the new car dealers are participating to help us identify solutions for some of those unmet needs that we have in our community.”

All of the new car dealers in Sedalia are participating by collecting donations at their respective dealerships.

“I can’t say enough about the area car dealers, the Sedalia guys,” said Ryan Ball of Rick Ball Ford. “We all get along with each other. Everybody works well with each other and we like having these challenges because anybody in the car business is somewhat competitive. So, we want to challenge each other and this is a competition with us but it’s all for the good. So, that’s one thing we like to be a part of.”

Behka Kramer, a sales consultant for McCarthy Toyota of Sedalia, is pushing for area residents to stop into the local dealerships and drop off donations for Cram the Closet before the event ends this weekend.

“We’ve got a Tacoma that’s pretty full,” Kramer said. “But, of course, since it is a Tacoma we have plenty of room. You can always bring by various items. For example, diapers, wipes, cleaning products, and paper products are good. Bring anything that might fill the gaps.”

The United Way is working with service organizations in Pettis County to distribute the items. Those organizations determine who to help with the items.

“This isn’t something where it’s a store that community residents can go to, but they can work through daycare centers. They can go through Katy Trail Community Health, the Pettis County Health Department and all of the United Way funded partners.”

Donations can be dropped off at any of the new car dealerships during regular business hours. For more information or questions, contact Staci Harrison at (660) 826-2980.

More From AM 1050 KSIS