Laurie Mortinger, co-director of the community assistance center opens the new dropbox to check for donated items.
By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Sometimes the little things make all the difference, and the Hays Community Assistance Center has found a new donation drop box is a win-win, allowing donations to get to people in need, rather than passersby.
“I’ve seen a lot of drop boxes out of town and I know that we get stuff dropped off and a lot of times they’ll string it all over the yard, they go through it, or somebody will pick it up,” Laurie Mortinger, said co-director of the Community Assistance Center, 208 E. 12th.
But solving the problem was not a easy as just buying the box for the center. They looked into the cost of buying one, but with most being made on the coasts, shipping cost was prohibitive.
Luckily, local businesses stepped up and were able to fabricate a box for the center.
The center’s board “talked to steel fab in Hays, they said they thought they could make us one,” Mortinger said. “Leon’s Welding, they have the paint shop, they painted it for us.”
The box was put in recently in front of the center and, much to the satisfaction of the center staff, is being used, having already filled up once.
“We finally got it put in, and we had just a really good response for us,” Mortinger said.
The box helps ensure donations get where they need to be.
“We like people to give us donations,” she said. “We would rather you didn’t leave it at the door when we’re not here and not open — as we usually don’t get it.”
For items too big to fit in the box or for large donations after hours, staff can also be made available for a drop-off, Mortinger said.
While the new box is helping to keep donations coming in, the staff is also preparing for their next big food drive — “Trick or Treat so Others Can Eat,” which helpings ensure food is available for those in need.
“We serve disabled, senior citizens, single mothers, anybody that can use our services,” Mortinger said.
“We get no city or federal money at all,” she said, instead the center runs completely on local assistance, including donations from local grocers and cash donations from community members.
Even locally grown food gets put to use at the center.
“If you have that extra garden produce or fruit trees, bring it to the center. Our clients can always use that stuff,” Mortinger said. “We have the two public garage sales and private donations are what keep our doors open.”
The center has two part time staff and over 40 volunteers.
“We couldn’t do it without them,” Mortinger said.
The center is also thankful for the community that has kept them open for 30 years.
“We couldn’t have done it without the support of the community. Hays has been very generous to us,” Mortinger said.
She estimated 75 to 100 food orders are given out every month, with up to 200 people coming in every month — and a large portion of those using the center regularly.
The center will host its largest drive of the year next month, “Trick or Treat so Others Can Eat.”
The center is open 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
