Nearly 500 United Way of the Midlands (UWM) (UnitedWayMidlands.org/ShineBright) volunteers came together August 5-8 to brighten students’ days by assembling more than 5,400 Shine Bright kits at the Mid-America Center.
As we start a new school year, thousands of students lack essential hygiene items such as soap, shampoo, conditioner and dental products, which can affect their health, academics and confidence. Each Shine Bright kit contains full-sized hygiene items students need to feel good and succeed in the classroom and in life.
Shine Bright is a partnership between United Way of the Midlands, Omaha and Council Bluffs Public Schools, Papillion La Vista Schools, JAG Nebraska and others. With community support, Shine Bright partners distributed the assembled Shine Bright kits to kindergarten, sixth- and ninth-grade students in need throughout the community and to JAG Nebraska students across the state. “Right now, families across the metro are truly struggling to make ends meet,” said Shawna Forsberg, president and CEO of United Way of the Midlands. “That means many have to make tough choices with their finances, often leaving them without hygiene products like soap or dental products. Together, we are helping students get the items they need so they’re ready to learn and can ‘shine bright’ in school.”
Shine Bright 2025 was possible thanks to supporting sponsors Centris Federal Credit Union, Delta Dental of Nebraska, Google, Mid-America Center and Tim and Terri Burke, along with community sponsors Election Systems & Software, Fiserv, Liberty Packaging, Penske, Wellabe, Werner® and WoodmenLife. To learn more about Shine Bright and how to get involved, go to UnitedWayMidlands.org/ShineBright.