Partnership to help hygiene poverty
People across Cork are being encouraged to donate a range of unopened and unused hygiene products to those in need.
It’s part of a new partnership between Boots and The Hygiene Bank Ireland which was announced ahead of National Hygiene Week, from 12–18 September, which aims to raise awareness about hygiene poverty and its impact on those who are affected.
Products such as dental products, deodorants, body wash, nappies, baby wipes, razors and shaving foam, period products, hairbrushes, shampoo and conditioner can be donated.
This new partnership is being announced ahead of National Hygiene Week, from 12 – 18 September, which aims to raise awareness about hygiene poverty and its impact on those who are affected.
Hygiene poverty is not being able to afford many of the everyday hygiene and personal grooming products most of us take for granted. The reality of low income is it restricts people’s options, leaving people caught between being able to heat homes, pay rent, eat or be clean. The Hygiene Bank Ireland is a grassroots organisation, which tackles hygiene poverty by delivering donated hygiene and household cleaning products to community partners who work with vulnerable and marginalised communities.
Initially Boots Ireland will be operating 10 drop-off points around the countryincluding 2 locations in Cork – Blackpool and Half Moon Street.
Ciára Dalton, Head of Marketing at The Hygiene Bank Ireland, said: “Everyone has the right to an adequate standard of living, yet with 640,000 people at risk of poverty and the cost of living on the rise, hygiene products can often be at the bottom of the shopping list for people who are struggling to make ends meet.
“The impact of this can be immense. A child might be bullied for going to school with matted hair because the family doesn’t have a hairbrush, or a woman might not leave the house for several days each month as she doesn’t have period products.”
Ciára added: “The Hygiene Bank Ireland is dedicated to working towards eradicating this problem whilst supporting those most at-risk of hygiene poverty with the products they need. That’s why our new partnership with Boots Ireland is so important as it will see our network of drop-off points increase and we encourage everyone who is able, to consider donating relevant products at those Boots Ireland stores taking part in this initiative.”
Martha Ryan, Head of Human Resources Boots Ireland and Corporate Social Responsibility Lead, said: “With 640,000 people at risk of poverty in Ireland, hygiene poverty is much closer to us than one might think, but there is a stigma associated with the issue so it can be hidden in plain sight.
“That’s why the work of The Hygiene Bank Ireland is so important in making sure that hygiene products get to those most at-risk.”