Article written by Tom Markland and published in The Journal on September 30, 2025, link to article HERE.
A Martinsburg High School graduate is giving back to her hometown with a new hygiene supply box designed to provide residents with basic necessities often overlooked in donation efforts.
Vaylee Olack, Miss Berkeley County Teen and now a freshman at Shenandoah University, said the idea came after noticing how Martinsburg had free book libraries and food pantries but no designated place for essential hygiene items.
Olack’s project, located in town, is also serving as her Gold Award project with the Girl Scouts; the highest honor a member can achieve. She has been part of the organization since first grade and said completing this project is a way to finish her Scouting journey while addressing a local need.
The hygiene box is a collaborative effort. The Martinsburg High School shop class built the container, while groups such as Girls That Shine and the American Legion are contributing supplies, including feminine products and other essentials. Students and community members are encouraged to donate items to keep the box stocked.
“Probably my favorite part of this whole process has been connecting with local partners,” Olack said.
Olack said the initiative builds on work she started in high school. As president of the National Honor Society, she helped organize baskets of hygiene products for classrooms. She also founded the Youth Leadership Association at Martinsburg High.
“We had a free community fall fest, and people were able to take things that they needed,” Olack said. “That really opened my eyes to what we needed.”
With the hygiene box now in place, Olack hopes the community will continue to keep it filled and available for anyone in need.