Kent student making winter survival kits for the homeless

Some items in the winter survival kits. (Source: WOIO)

KENT, OH (WOIO) - One local college student is helping the homeless by providing them with some simple necessities.

Ashley Flowers says she couldn't just sit back.

"I feel like people, when they think of homelessness, they just automatically think of people needing food, which they do need but everyone helps with food so that's really not an issue, the issue is helping them keep up with hygiene so they can get out into the real world and get jobs," she said.

She had the idea to put together "Winter Survival Kits"---with like wool blankets, hats, gloves, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes and sanitary napkins.

So she started an online fundraiser [DONATE HERE] pledging to get to at least $500 over a couple of weeks.

instead she raised $600 in 4 days.

"Someone even donated a little sewing kit."

Now she's just putting it all together and trying to get them to the people who need them the most.

"The homeless shelters have a cutoff time and they one that we're actually going to, cutoff time ends at 7 p.m. so at 7 we'll be there to hand out the care kits to those who can't get to them," she said.

Flowers is planning to distribute the kits in downtown Cleveland this weekend.

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