Lower-income students at two Shelby County schools were the first to receive free hygiene and personal care products delivered Friday under a $90,000 grant from UnitedHealthcare’s Empowering Health initiative, along with $10,000 from Kroger.

Distribution of the products began at Kate Bond Middle School and Kingsbury Elementary. Other schools will be included in the coming weeks, eventually reaching 20 schools and 10,000 students in the county system.

The Shelby County Education Foundation, which is administering the program, will deliver supplies such as shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss and feminine hygiene products.

“This is part of a $1 million grant that we are giving out throughout Shelby County, and it’s part of our effort to address social determinants to health,” Matt Grimes, UnitedHealthcare’s vice president of innovation and strategy. “This affects boys and girls throughout the school system, and we know that it makes them self-conscious, it impacts their ability to come to school and feel good about learning, and once they get behind, it makes it harder for them to continue.”

With more than half of students in Shelby County Schools living in households with incomes less than 200% of the federal poverty level, the lack of proper hygiene can impact their physical health, mental well-being, self-esteem and focus, contributing to bullying and absenteeism.

Fran Wilson, a theater teacher at Kate Bond, coordinated the delivery at the school in Memphis just south of Stage Road and the Bartlett city limits. She formerly worked at a Title I school and saw children with insufficient places to stay. They slept on people’s couches, didn’t have necessities like uniforms or coats, so organizers asked the community for help.

Wilson said some “young ladies” avoid school because of personal hygiene issues. She established the Llama Lounge on campus, where students can come confidentially to pick up personal care products and some clothing. School nurses, staff and administrators will help identify students in need and distribute the hygiene supplies discreetly.

“It’s sad that there are so many kids (that) have to go through this kind of thing,” said Kate Bond eighth-grader Donovan Marino. “It’s not good for some kids to lose out on an education because they smell or they don’t look a certain way.”

Dr. Lori Phillips, SCS chief of student, family and community affairs, hopes this effort provides students in need enough supplies to last them throughout each week.

“This really started last year when we made the plea and asked the community to get involved in helping our students eliminate the barrier of not coming to school due to lack of personal hygiene products, specifically young ladies and their feminine hygiene,” Phillips explained. “We care about our students not only while they’re at school but when they’re away as well.”

Dianne Polly, executive director of the Shelby County Education Foundation, says they are short on volunteers to help with the program. Volunteers can call (901) 416-7396 to find more about how to help.

Other projects getting underway later this year to help students in need include the SCS district’s annual Project Warm Hearts campaign, which starts up soon for donations of warm clothes for the winter, and its feminine hygiene drives begins next month.