The Oshkosh Public Library is now home to a Comfort Cabinet where anyone can come to pick up necessities that go above and beyond those that are typically a common part of public assistance programs.
The cabinet comes in the form of a repurposed card catalog, with organizers adding it will be stocked with items ranging from soap and feminine products to hats and hand warmers with the idea coming about after library staffers took a tour of the Day By Day Warming Shelter.
“One of the things that the shelter does is providing these items to its guests and so we had a discussion among library staff about how can we help support what they’re already doing and also support library patrons that also come here,” Oshkosh Public Library employee Kim Hoffman told WeAreGreenBay.com.
Staffers added individuals won’t need a library card to claim any of the products and there will be no questions asked.
“The Day by Day Shelter isn’t open all the time. And part of what they do is do outreach where they physically go to places where they think people experiencing homelessness might be and they get those supplies to those people. But they don’t catch everyone. And these supplies are available any time the library is open,” said Hoffman.
The cabinet will be restocked by the Day By Day Warming Shelter staff and the shelter is now accepting donations that can go into the Comfort Cabinet. Items can be dropped off at the Day by Day Warming Shelter at 449 High Avenue in Oshkosh.
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