Youth In Need is currently holding a donation drive that would help provide comfort and care for children and families in Montgomery County.

The Undie 500 is taking donations of new socks and underwear and lightly used swimwear in four different locations in the county. The drive began on April 10.

“Socks and underwear go a long way for kids and families,” said Sarah Lodatto, one of the Youth In Need employees. “Underwear and socks are always something we’re asking for, all sizes.”

Lodatto named the drive after the Indianapolis 500. This year’s race is scheduled for May 24, the same day the Undie 500 drive will end.

“It just kind of came together,” Lodatto said. “It’s been spinning in my brain since last year.”

Donations are accepted at Papa B’s Wing Shack, the Montgomery City Public Library, High Hill Christian Church, the Warehouse Bar and Grill in Jonesburg. The Youth In Need building at 898 South Sturgeon is also taking donations.

“Sherry (Lato) from the Warehouse reached out at Christmastime and said she would love to help in any way she could, so I thought of her first,” Lodatto said. “(Director) Gaylee (Harris) from the library is always reaching out, so we checked there. The other two were chosen randomly. The High Hill Christian Church does a lot for the community as well. And Papa B’s was willing (to help out).”

All of them have donation boxes. Youth In Need staff members will collect the items after May 24.

“We’re going to go pick them up and see what we got and see what our families can use and see what we can use here in the center,” Lodatto said. “If we have a lot left, we’ll reach out to other agencies.”

Lodatto said Youth In Need staff members began working on the donation project at the beginning of this year.

“I think I started working on the flyer in January or February,” she said. “We reached out to businesses to see if we could put a box there. We got the boxes out in early April.”

For more information, contact Youth In Need at 573-564-2600.