Belleville woman collects toiletries for the homeless

Deidre Gomez has a challenge for you.

“Everybody can give something,” she said. “Think of those in need. Anything you feel you can do to make a change is wonderful.”

The 35-year-old Belleville woman collected 60 sets of toiletries, 30 for men and 30 for women, that she’ll hand out Dec. 20 at New Life Evangelistic Center in St. Louis.

“It may not seem like a lot, but to me it is. Friends say, ‘You can’t help everybody,’ but you can make a difference in every life you touch, everyone you speak to.”

She chose New Life because it’s a large center where the homeless can come in and spend the night.

“It’s a place I could go to rather than just going and handing out things to homeless people I see on the street. I wanted it to be secure and safe. They sign in and out. The women come in from 3 to 5 p.m. The men come in from 5 to 7 p.m.”

According to shelter manager Scott Egan, New Life houses 60 to 70 women and children and 150 to 200 men on a given winter night. They welcome donations of all kinds, from hand warmers to coats and care kits.

“Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, yes, donations increase. People are more in a giving mood this time of year.”

Deidre was staying at an Indiana hotel last year when she came up with her idea.

“I looked over and saw the little shampoo bottles. I thought, ‘I am going to start saving these.’ I bring my own shampoo and conditioner when I travel. The next day, I remember telling a friend, ‘I grabbed all the little soaps and conditioners and am going to start helping the homeless.’”

She calls her effort “Help the Homeless Project.”

“My friend said, ‘How many homeless people do you think you are going to help with one little shampoo?” I said, ‘Ask me in about a year and I will show you.’”

On a foggy Monday evening, fresh-baked sugar cookies filled a plate in the kitchen. Small containers of shampoo and conditioners filled a nearby table, along with hand lotion, hair gel, toothpaste, toothbrushes, lip balm, deodorant and candy. Some were packaged in ziplock bags and tied with ribbon and Deidre’s homemade tags — angels wings with the message “to wash your wings” and a wrapped present with “gifts for giving.”

“I have a color scheme,” she said, “red ribbon is for the women, silver for the men.”

Deidre broadened her original idea.

“I had some brand new jewelry and hair barrettes. I bought some coffee mugs, dish washing soap, bath soap, face soap ... You can see just how many I am going to help,” she said proudly. “I collected everywhere I went.”

She picked up a few when she visited her sister in Indiana. On a vacation to Florida. In Hannibal, Mo., for a Fourth of July picnic. From a Wyndham Hotel on a trip to Chicago. Deidre figures the shampoo and conditioner comes with the price of the room.

“It’s there for us,” she said. “It’s mine. I’m just giving it to someone else. This is another person I am going to help.”

Gabriella Chiera, communications manager with Wyndham Hotel Group, agrees.

“They’re for the guests’ use, absolutely.”

Deidre’s enthusiasm is contagious.

“I started talking to a friend who travels a lot for work. She’s going to start collecting.”

The Ivory soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste? Compliments of Roxana Ford.

“Roxie, my co-worker at Illinois Central (School Bus), is a coupon saver. She gets extras. (Roommate) Amanda Rudy donated a few items.”

Deidre, who lives in Belleville with two roommates, holds several part-time jobs. She is a school bus monitor for special needs children, a part-time nanny, a mentor and works Thursdays at the East YMCA children’s center and as a fitness coach for children with special needs.

“I had a learning disability myself,” she said. “I had a lisp and spoke backwards. I graduated (in 1998) from O’Fallon High School. I was on the special ed honor roll. I’m grateful for my teachers. I needed one-on-one training and help.”

Last year, Deidre completed a children’s book, “Ding Dong At The Door, We’re Here To Love Forever More,’” about her adoption, and has a book of poetry in the works.

“It's important for children to know it doesn’t matter where you come from," said Deidre, a 1998 graduate of O’Fallon Township High School. "Your parents love you regardless, and accept you with open arms.”

That’s what her parents, Virginia “Ginny” and Al Sanders, of Mascoutah, did for her. It’s what she wants to do for others.

“I’m excited to go on the 20th,” she said. “I can’t wait. I want to reach out to as many people as I can. I will ask them their name and tell them I’ve been saving these goodies for a year and came here to give them to you.”

This story was originally published December 2, 2015 at 2:54 AM with the headline "Belleville woman collects toiletries for the homeless."