Millbrook’s Robotics team, the GearCats, are currently working in partnership with Oak City Cares to host a toiletry drive to provide hygiene products to people experiencing homelessness in Raleigh.
Oak City Cares is a non-profit organization commissioned by the Raleigh City Council to provide a long-term, permanent solution to homelessness. Since opening in April of 2019, Oak City Cares has been able to provide 258,763 meals through their Weekend Meals Program and through their Basic Needs Program. They have provided over 42,000 showers and 25,000 laundry services to their guests. Over the past 16 months, Oak City Cares has stabilized over 69 households by either managing to avoid homelessness all together or by helping them quickly exit homelessness.
President of Robotics and senior Rachel Ward says, “Donation drives are a great way to get a large volume of products to those in need who are struggling to afford basic necessities, and to raise awareness of the challenges that others in the community are facing and the amazing nonprofit that we’re partnering with.”
The Robotics Toiletry drive will be accepting donations of bar soap, brushes and combs, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, lotion, shaving cream and razors, mouthwash, toothpaste and toothbrushes, dental floss, period products, and sunscreen. People can bring the donations to any of the five labeled boxes throughout the school in the media center, main office, room 220, room 2403, and room M801-07 in the pods. The team will take all the donations and distribute them on October 26.
Electrical Executive and junior Grey Hall says, “Students need to get involved for the drive to work. It encourages future service in the student’s community. Seeing the impact a student makes on their community inspires them to continue their service for years after.”
Aside from community service, the GearCats is a great club to join for anyone interested in STEM. The GearCats compete in the international FIRST Robotics Competition every year. Teams are given a challenge and have six weeks to build, design, wire, and program a fully functioning robot.
The club provides hands-on STEM training in things like mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering. They also teach other important skills like mentoring kids, contacting sponsors, and marketing.
Ward says, “We get the chance to compete against other teams from across the state and country, and even from around the world. The atmosphere of competitions matches the intensity of a sports game, and as the company first likes to put it, robotics is ‘the only sport where every kid can go pro.’”
If you’re interested in donating anything and helping people in need, be sure to drop off your toiletries in one of the boxes before October 26, and if you’re interested in robots and STEM, consider joining Robotics!
