BROWNWOOD—Two freshmen coeds at Howard Payne University did not shower for six days in mid-January—not because they were too busy or too lazy, but to raise money for a relief effort for Haiti.
Darrah Blackwater and Caidon George were watching televised news reports about the earthquake that devastated Haiti when they had an idea.
“We had not showered yet, and we were watching news about Haiti and brainstorming about what we could do to help,” Blackwater said. “We thought that our worlds are a little brighter after we shower.”
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Howard Payne University students (left to right) Zachary Green, Jeremy Glover, Darrah Blackwater, Caidon George and Jameson White joined in the effort to raise money to purchase Klenz towels for Haitians after the 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti in mid-January. Some of the group members decided not to shower for six days until they reached their $2,000 goal.
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It caused them to wonder about people who lack access to showers, and a little research led them to discover the Klenz shower-in-a-towel product. According to the manufacturer’s website, the product was conceived and designed by a U.S. military serviceman who, while on a tour of duty, realized the need for a pre-moistened towel that was large enough, and durable enough, to provide a full-body cleaning.
Blackwater and George envisioned raising $2,000 for the towels that cost $2 each. So, for as long as it took, the girls would not take showers in a stand of solidarity with the Haitians.
“Not showering is something tangible that we could do to help, along with inspiring others to give to the cause,” Blackwater said.
“Both of us wanted to do something for Haiti, so we got posters and our friend Jeremy Glover created a Facebook group for us,” George said. “Everything came together very smoothly.”
The students named their effort “Hygiene for Haitians,” and they set up a table in front of the Howard Payne cafeteria to solicit donations.
George also shared information about their efforts with her hometown church in Glen Rose.
Through word of mouth and their efforts outside the cafeteria at Howard Payne, the two students had raised $231 on the first day, and they recruited additional students who also decided not to shower.
By the sixth day, they surpassed their goal, raising $2,032.18. Naturally, the two girls celebrated with showers.
Although the two students met their personal goal, they did not plan on stopping there. Klenz had its own corporate goal of sending 1 million towels to Haiti by Feb. 5, and George and Blackwater wanted to help in this effort.
“Yes, we accomplished our goal, but Haiti still needs our prayers and support,” George wrote, adding Hygiene for Haitians campaign still was accepting donations.
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