Jonesboro, AR — (JonesboroRightNow.com) — April 15, 2025 — A group of Arkansas State University students are making sure to give a helping hand to those in need through specialized care packages.

The internship class for the university’s Autonomy Through Leadership, Advocacy and Service (A.T.L.A.S.) Transition Program is collecting donations until April 30 to create care packages to help people experiencing homelessness in Jonesboro. The initiative has been happening since March.

Wakonda Cox, an adjunct professor for the class and grant manager for the RESTORE Hub, said one of the goals of the class is to build leadership and community service, and she feels this initiative helps with that.

“We want the homeless to just know that somebody cares, so this is just a way of showing them somebody is thinking of them, somebody cares for them,” Cox said.

It’s a collaborative effort, with Cox saying that the students have been working together to get the word out, telling their parents, church members and more about the program.

Student Abby Wire, who is in her first year in the A.T.L.A.S. program, said the group has been “pretty tight knit,” and with them working together in pairs on a separate project, it makes it easier to get along.

Participating in the project has changed Wire’s perspective on homelessness, as she said how she viewed homelessness in Jonesboro was different than where she lived previously.

“Being from Dallas, TX, it’s a little bit different, because I see it a lot more there, and I don’t see it as much as I see it in Jonesboro, but now that we’ve done this project, it’s opened my eyes to see it in different ways,” Wire said.

Cox echoed the sentiment, saying with today’s economy, it’s becoming more difficult for people to make ends meet, making it more likely they will end up on the streets.

“They’re educated, they worked before, but something like having to take care of a family’s debt, their sick parents, or losing their job and not having health care,” Cox said. “It’s not that they’ve made bad choices in their lives, it’s just that sometimes, they don’t have the resources to get back to where they need to be.”

The problem currently, according to Cox, is that they have not collected enough donations. She would like to get enough donations to do between 25 to 50 care packages. So far, they have collected non-perishable food, water, toothpaste, and soap.

“Every donation counts, every act of kindness is important, and we just want to show people that we can,” Cox said.

The class is currently accepting the following items:

First aid and health essentials

  • Band-aids and first aid kits
  • Antibacterial ointment
  • Pain relievers
  • Cold medicine
  • Cough drops
  • Sunscreen
  • Bug spray

Clothing and accessories

  • Socks
  • Gloves and hats
  • Scarves
  • Underwear
  • T-shirts and sweatshirts
  • Lightweight rain ponchos
  • Thermal blankets and mylar blankets
  • Winter coats and jackets
  • Comfortable walking shoes

Personal hygiene and toiletries

  • Toothbrushes and toothpaste
  • Soap (bar or liquid)
  • Body wash
  • Shampoo and conditioner (travel size)
  • Deodorant
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Wet and facial wipes
  • Lotion (travel size)
  • Chapstick or lip balm
  • Feminine hygiene products (tampons, pads)
  • Disposable razors and shaving cream
  • Combs and brushes
  • Nail clippers
  • Small packs of tissues

Food and snacks

  • Peanut butter crackers
  • Granola and protein bars
  • Trail mix and nuts
  • Dried fruit
  • Canned goods with pop-top lids
  • Beef jerky
  • Instant oatmeal packs
  • Bottled water
  • Instant coffee or tea bags
  • Powdered drink mixes
  • Utensils

You can drop off your donations between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at one of the following locations:

  • The Lupine Wellness Center
    • Room 133, A-State Education Building
  • A.T.L.A.S. Transition Program
    • Room 110, A-State Education Building
  • The RESTORE Hub
    • 2301 East Johnson Avenue

If you want to make a monetary donation, click here to fill out a form. On the form, under the line that says, “I would like to give to,” mark “Other” and type in “A.T.L.A.S. Transition Program.” Monetary donations will be tax deductible.

Once donations are collected, the plan will be to drop off the care packages on May 9.