HPU’s Bonner Leader Program Provides Supplies for Local Veterans

HIGH POINT, N.C., Nov. 18, 2022 – High Point University students in the Bonner Leader Program hosted a day of service on Veterans Day to package and deliver hygiene packs and personal items to local veterans.

As part of the service-learning program, students packaged 40 hygiene kits filled with lotion, toothpaste, floss, toothbrushes, shaving cream, razors and deodorant. They also packed 20 personal item kits and donated additional items for veterans experiencing homelessness to the Arthur Cassell Transitional House, which is part of Open Door Ministries in High Point. Students delivered the packages to the veterans on Nov. 14.

The Bonner Leader Program is a national service program found at select universities across the country. HPU Bonners are servant leaders who connect fellow HPU students to nonprofits and social innovation projects in the local community.

This is the first time the Bonner Leaders have provided hygiene packs to the Arthur Cassell Transitional House. Student Kaitlyn Cruz says they hope to make this an annual tradition.

“The Bonner Program works directly with the community in many ways, and we felt that working further with our veterans was extremely vital and necessary,” said Cruz. “The Open Door Ministry program has current veterans who will be able to benefit from the packages given, but we also hope for this to act as a collection for future use.”

This is one of the many ways the HPU family gives back to the community and part of the nearly 500,000 hours of community service that students, faculty and staff participate in annually.

“We appreciate the student-run Bonner Leader Program for the donation of T-shirts, underwear, socks, towels and hygiene products,” said Beth Waters, clinical director at Open Door Ministries. “It means so much to the veterans to receive the lovely welcome bags. We are grateful for the work that was put into this.”