Representatives from the “On My Mother’s Shoulders” organization from Marietta, Georgia, delivered hundreds of toiletry items to stock the “Jets Pantry” at South Georgia Technical College recently to help college students in need.
“We are so very appreciative of this organization for donating these items to South Georgia Technical College for us to distribute to students who need toiletries but don’t have the financial means to purchase items for their basic needs,” said South Georgia Technical College Vice President of Student Affairs Eulish Kinchens, whose department oversees Student Affairs, Student Activities, and On-Campus Housing programs.
Jennifer Robinson, Special Services Coordinator at South Georgia Technical College, reached out to the “On My Mother’s Shoulders” organization and requested items for the newly initiated “Jets Pantry” to provide critical items such as soap, shampoo, tooth paste, deodorant, feminine hygiene products and more for the South Georgia Technical College students who find themselves in need and cannot purchase basic toiletry items.
Claudia Phillips, founder of “On My Mother’s Shoulders,” and Pamela Whitefield, drove to Americus from Marietta, GA and delivered hundreds of items for SGTC’s Jets Pantry. The pantry is located in the Odom Center on the 2nd floor and is open Monday – Thursday from 3:30 to 5:45 p.m. and from 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. on Friday. Students can call 229-931-2595 or 229-931-2394 for entry into the pantry or email Jennifer Robinson at jennifer.robinson@southgatech.edu.
“On My Mother’s Shoulders” is a 501(c)3 organization that was established to help college students that are homeless and experiencing housing insecurities by establishing and continuously stocking toiletry pantries on campuses for their hygiene needs. The vision statement on the organization is “Smell good, feel good, achieve greatness.”
Claudia Phillips began the organization in 2017 when it was brought to her attention that there are students attending colleges that are homeless. With the rising cost of college tuition and books, students are sometimes left in need. Over the past three years, the organization has reached out to 20 different colleges and donated 66,535 toiletries which includes 43,923 to students experiencing hygiene insecurities.
The organization was named in honor of Claudia Phillips mother, who grew up in Jamaica. “Mom was a school teacher which made summer traveling to the United States together easy. So when we traveled she would often load up on goodies and toiletries taking them back to our friends and neighbors who didn’t have the privilege to travel as we did. I can still hear her voice calling to deliver toiletries and other treats to our neighbors, once we were home. As I got older I knew that there was more that needed to be done.”
“On My Mother’s Shoulders” accepts donations through PayPal: ommsinc@gmail.com and Venmo: ommsinc.
South Georgia Technical College will be hosting drives once or twice a year for individuals who wish to purchase toiletry items for the Jets Pantry. Individuals wishing to donate toiletry items to the Jets Pantry at SGTC can contact Jennifer Robinson at 229-931-2595 or jennifer.robinson@southgatech.edu. In order to request items from the pantry, individuals must be a current student with an ID and 9000 number and they can only get one or two items a week.