O'Hara collecting items for California wildfire victims

O’Hara officials have teamed up with the Pittsburgh-based nonprofit Brother’s Brother Foundation to collect supplies for California wildfire victims.

The township launched its collection for hygiene kits Jan. 22.

The deadline to donate at the municipal building is Feb. 6.

Items requested include toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, flushable wipes and Chapstick.

These items are requested small or travel size: toothpaste, body wash, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, hand sanitizer or sanitizer wipes, tissues and lotion.

Items need to be able to fit into a one-gallon zip lock bag.

The township will package the materials after the collection deadline and send them to the Brother’s Brother facility for distribution on the West Coast.

O’Hara has partnered with Brother’s Brother before to help people impacted by Hurricane Helene, the 2023 Hawaii wildfires and other disasters.

Township manager Julie Jakubec said caring about others is a value built into the community.

“Council just always feels it’s important when we can aid to the greater good that we do so,” she said. “I contact (Brother’s Brother) and they give me a list of what they are seeking.”

The township will not accept any cash or checks.

People who want to contribute monetarily can do so through the organization’s website, brothersbrother.org.

“They’re a good group, and we can take items to them that then get transported to whoever is in need,” Jakubek said.

“I think everybody wants to do something. Some people would like to go to the store, pick out items. A lot of times we have people who have their children involved in going and selecting the items. It’s just a way for folks to be able to help with this tragedy. It’s more interactive than maybe if they’re just making a cash donation.”

O’Hara is one of many entities contributing to the relief efforts.

Foundation president Ozzy Samad said the organization has shipped 2,500 hygiene kits, close to 20,000 bottles of water and 254,800 N95 masks as of mid-January thanks to contributions from churches, Giant Eagle and the Allegheny Health Network.

It is in the process of preparing freezers, microwaves, refrigerators, more kits and supplies with contributions from other communities and agencies like OhioHealth.

Samad said O’Hara has been an outstanding partner and the foundation will welcome whatever it collects.

“We could not do any of our work without the support of the community,” Samad said. “It’s unbelievable. What’s really meaningful is (when) we have these disasters over and over, the community just comes together each time and supports our work. We get donations financially. We get in-kind donations. It’s really been across the board.”

He also encouraged people who want to volunteer to reach out to coordinator Michelle Little via email at mlittle@brothersbrother.org.