The Alliance for Incarcerated Women (AIW) is coordinating a nationwide hygiene drive to support women in correctional facilities across multiple states. This student-led initiative is an opportunity for college groups, nonprofits, and community organizations to take part in a practical, high-impact effort that promotes dignity, health, and solidarity.
About the Drive: Each participating campus or organization commits to collecting at least 100 approved hygiene items (e.g., shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, sanitary pads) to benefit women in custody. All donations must be new, unopened, and individually packaged. AIW provides a detailed list of approved items, flyers, and shipping instructions.
Guidelines:
- Bar soap (unscented or lightly scented)
- Shampoo and conditioner (plastic bottles, under facility size limits)
- Toothpaste and toothbrushes (individually wrapped)
- Menstrual pads (no tampons unless facility-approved)
- Deodorant (solid stick, not spray)
Why It Matters: For many incarcerated women, access to basic hygiene products is limited or unaffordable. This drive helps fill that gap—while raising awareness about the conditions of confinement and mobilizing students to make a tangible difference in the lives of hundreds of women.
Who’s Participating: This year’s drive includes campuses such as Cornell, Yale, UC Irvine, Howard, George Washington University, Villanova, and Washington University in St. Louis, with new partners joining in Texas, Hawaii, and Pennsylvania.
This event is in partnership with Children with Incarcerated Parents Initiative out of the UConn Hartford Campus. Please deliver all hygiene products to the 4th floor in suite 443.
For more information, contact: Ariana Azerrad Zevallos at ariana.azerrad@uconn.edu