Don’t Panic Labs Announces Ninth Annual Towel Drive for People’s City Mission
Don’t Panic Labs is returning for its ninth annual towel drive, collecting new and used towels for Lincoln’s People’s City Mission.
From May 11 through May 25, Don’t Panic Labs is calling on Lincoln residents, businesses, and organizations to donate towels of any condition for the Mission’s shelter. People’s City Mission currently houses 342 guests and distributes approximately 5,500 towels each year, making them one of the most consistently needed items at the shelter.
The public is encouraged to drop off towels at any of these collection sites:
Carbon Coffee – 1368 S 33rd Street
Cultiva East Campus – 3535 Holdrege Street, Suite 130
Cultiva Labs – 2510 Randolf Street
Don’t Panic Labs – 330 South 21st, Suite 200
Good Life Fitness – 300 Speedway Cir & 8601 Amber Hill Ct
Nebraska Innovation Campus / The Mill Coffee & Bistro – 2021 Transformation Drive
Open Harvest – 330 South 21st, Suite 104
People’s City Mission Help Center – 6800 P Street
People’s City Mission Shelter – 110 Q Street
Salon Voe – 1600 Normandy Ct #104
The Mill Coffee & Tea – 330 S 21st
Turbine Flats – 2124 Y St
Ameritas, CompanyCam, and HomeServices of Nebraska, are serving as private collection sites so their employees can easily donate. The PTOs of Kooser Elementary and Standing Bear High School are coordinating collection barrels so students and their families can participate. The Air National Guard and Army National Guard are hosting collection barrels on base for their airmen and soldiers. Horizons Community Church and Prolific Performance are also hosting collection barrels.
The drive runs through Towel Day, May 25, a worldwide celebration honoring the late Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Don’t Panic Labs takes its name from Adams’ novel, where the words “Don’t Panic” appear on the cover of the Guide. The book describes a towel as “about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have.” When People’s City Mission shared that towels are a constant, often-overlooked need at the shelter, the connection felt like a natural fit.
Don’t Panic Labs launched the drive in 2017. This year marks the ninth year of the event, with 2020 the only year the drive was not held, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Don’t Panic Labs will share the final donation counts in the week following the drive.
Monetary donations are also accepted online. Visit dontpaniclabs.com/towelday for more information.
