Musco Lighting partnered with United Way Muscatine County to assemble women’s care kits and basic needs kits to be distributed to individuals upon their arrival to Muscatine Center for Social Action’s (MCSA) Domestic Violence Shelter or the MCSA Homeless Shelter. On November 21, 2024, United Way Muscatine County’s Community Engagement Manager was on-site at Musco Lighting to provide information about the MCSA Domestic Violence and Homeless Shelters and to lead Musco’s first kit packing event.
Musco Lighting team members assembled and delivered 300 kits to help provide basic care needs and words of encouragement for individuals entering the local domestic violence shelter or the local homeless shelter. “Partnering with United Way to assemble the kits was a great addition to our Annual United Way Campaign,” said Amber Schulte, Team Services and Events Coordinator with Musco Lighting. “Our team appreciated the opportunity to volunteer and help those in need in our community.”
Each kit for the domestic violence shelter included a toothbrush, toothpaste, washcloth, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, razor, chapstick, drawstring bag, hairbrush, socks, and a personalized note card. Each kit for the homeless shelter included a toothbrush, toothpaste, washcloth, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, razor, chapstick, bag, hairbrush, hat, gloves, and a personalized note card.
In 2023, 288 people including 39 children accessed the MCSA Homeless Shelter. The average length of stay was between 1-30 days and 60% of people exited to positive housing destinations. The national average is 45%. So far in 2024, 185 adults and 18 children have been served at the MCSA Homeless Shelter.
The MCSA Domestic Violence Shelter is one of 28 shelters left in Iowa. If their services were not available, those fleeing violent situations within our community would have to travel out of the county to receive the resources they deserve. In 2023, the MCSA Domestic Violence Shelter housed 29 women and 19 children and 339 calls were made to their crisis line. If you or someone you know needs help, the crisis line is available 24/7 at 563-263-8080.
“We are deeply appreciative of Musco Lighting’s support of the Muscatine community,” says Hilary Henke, Community Engagement Manager for United Way Muscatine County. “Their generous contributions to this kit-packing event will help ensure that individuals entering the domestic violence or homeless shelter have their most basic needs met, while also providing them with a sense of encouragement and support during a challenging time.”
About United Way Muscatine County
The mission of United Way Muscatine County is to mobilize resources to empower the greater Muscatine community to improve the lives of people in need. We believe that every household deserves to be self-sufficient. We are working with the community to ensure that we are making a difference.
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