A Chestatee High School student is turning her love of soap making into a community public service project to help needy families in Hall County.
Taylor Rudeseal, a sophomore at Chestatee, received a $500 grant from 4-H, which she intends on using to give back to her community. On November 9, Rudeseal will hold an event she’s calling All Hall, where volunteers will get to share her love of making soap.
Her inspiration to create soap started at a young age, and she thanks her parents for encouraging her creativity.
“Ever since I was little, I was inquisitive and creative, so then I began to wonder how soap was made,” Rudeseal said. “I researched it for a long time, and my mom helped me make my first batch. I just really enjoyed making the soap after that because of the chemistry and creativity I get to use.”
When she was in 5th grade, Rudeseal joined 4-H, where she was later introduced to the Leadership in Action program last August. Students in the program learn to create ways to make a difference in their community.
Rudeseal decided to use her love of soap making as her Leadership in Action project, and she went on to win first place at the Northeast competition in Atlanta, where she received the $500 grant from 4-H alumnus.
Chestatee's schoolwide focus on community service was also an inspiration for Rudeseal.
“As I entered high school, I realized that [students] can’t be successful if they don't have access to the personal hygiene items that they need, and I want them to be successful and grow the self-confidence,” she said.
Her involvement in the Renaissance Academy of Creative Enterprises, known as RACE, at Chestatee helped encourage her to start her event and bring the community together. She thanked her RACE teachers, specifically Kimberly Holland, for supporting her and helping her to continue growing her passion.
Since she started donating, Rudeseal said she's helped over 500 families through donations at Good Samaritan Ministries weekly and Hall County schools monthly.
"I make 64 loads worth every week for the Good Samaritan Food Ministries,” she said. “So far, I have donated over 616 bars of soap and 1,567 pounds of detergent.”
In 2017, Rudeseal created her own bath and body line called Clover Girl, which was inspired by the clover in the 4-H logo. For the most part, all her products are donations, but she has started selling her soaps at the Hall County Farmer’s Market and different craft shows, where all her proceeds go back to supplies. As of now, she is working on creating a website for anyone to buy her products.
Rudeseal’s event, All Hall, will be on November 9 from 9 a.m.-noon. Volunteers will meet in Chestatee High School’s cafeteria and will be able to make the soap and laundry detergent that will be donated.
“Some people will be able to make the soap we’re donating,” she said. “Some people will be able to make laundry detergent. They’re going to wrap the soap that we donate and things like that, so it’ll be fun, and they’ll learn a lot about these things and like I said, be inspired and go back and make it for their schools.”
In order to have a successful event, Rudeseal is looking for donations including Ziploc bags, super washing soda, Zote, olive oil, Fels Naptha, lard, borax, and coconut oil.
Rudeseal plans on continuing to donate soap and laundry detergent to different schools in Hall County and Gainesville, but she would like to start expanding her donations.
“I would really love to reach out to some local women’s shelters because I know they have a big need,” Rudeseal said. “I hope that I can inspire the students that come to make their own so I’m able to branch out and help more people in Hall County.”
