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Maya Drinkle is a student at Seycove Secondary School.

by Gagandeep Ghuman, North Shore Daily Post

A Grade 11 student at Seycove Secondary School has partnered with a non-profit to collect personal health items for children and families, including diapers, wipes, tampons, menstrual pads and lice kits.

Maya Drinkle, who lives in Deep Cove, has partnered with the YMCA Nanook House to raise awareness about the need for these items.

The Bob and Kay Ackles YMCA Nanook House is a childcare center for kids ages 1 to 5 and helps families in need while growing a safe and welcoming atmosphere.

Maya is hoping to raise a minimum of $500 worth of personal health products for the families at YMCA Nanook House by January 15th.

That is not her only aim.

She would also like to raise awareness about the need for charities such as YMCA Nanook to receive items like these.

“Often people like to donate food or toys, especially during the holidays, but often disregard items that people take for granted because to them they are easily accessible,” she says.

YMCA Nanook depends on the generous donations of the public to support the families they serve, but personal health items is something they always struggle to collect, she adds.

Maya’s mom, Yael Zachs, said Maya has always been passionate about helping children and families.

“She was immediately drawn to the work the YMCA Nanook House does to support vulnerable families, Zachs said.

She also believes that everyone should have equal access to necessary personal health items like pads and tampons, regardless of their ability to afford these items.

“It might feel nice to give a kid a toy but giving a box of diapers can be much more useful to the family,” she says.