If you were to take a peek in most homes on the West Shore, chances are pretty good that youB次元官网网址檇 probably find a half-full bottle of shampoo or one of those little hotel bottles of lotion collecting dust somewhere. Even more of those parital little bottles are thrown away in the hotel industry each day.
To help fulful the hygiene needs of communities locally and globally, Soap for Hope B次元官网网址� a program through Disaster Aid Canada B次元官网网址� collects gently used or unused soap and hygiene products that would otherwise be discarded from the hotel industry and members of the public.
B次元官网网址淲e always say B次元官网网址榥obody should have to hope for soap,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� noted C. Anne McIntyre, the executive director of Disaster Aid Canada. B次元官网网址淭he more I started talking with (local shelters) the more I found they didnB次元官网网址檛 really have it in their budgets for hygiene products.B次元官网网址�
The program initally supplied five Victoria-based shelters and has quickly grown to 30 across Vancouver Island. Roughly 40 hotels on the Island donate products. But the need greatly outweighs supplies. B次元官网网址淚n Victoria the demand is 8,500 kits a month alone B次元官网网址� and thatB次元官网网址檚 not including families,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e do the best we can.B次元官网网址�
Last year volunteers processed 75,000 bars of soap and 45,000 other hygene products. While McIntyre estimated roughly one-third of what they receive was new, the rest is sterlized and topped up with the same brand of product. B次元官网网址淲e repurpose them in our warehouse and create hygene kits,B次元官网网址� she explained. Volunteers get together on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. every week to process donations and one night a month they build kits. Every kit includes a bar of soap and a bottle each of shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion.
While most of the kits go to shower programs for adults, the Pacific Centre Family Services Association in Colwood recieves about 50 kits a month and is the only organization supplied with these kits that serves children.
But the program isnB次元官网网址檛 just about basic hygiene needs. It helps boost recipientsB次元官网网址� self-esteem and keep them positive. As McIntyre noted, unless someone feels clean itB次元官网网址檚 hard to get a job, interact with society or even feel good about oneB次元官网网址檚 self. Sometimes a bar of soap is more than just a means of getting clean. For many, it can be a symbol of hope.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 also a great recycling program,B次元官网网址� she added. B次元官网网址淟ast year I think we saved 215,000 bottles from the garbage.B次元官网网址� Used hotel-sized bottles that still have product left in them cannot be recycled until they are cleaned and many find their way into the trash. Any bottles the program canB次元官网网址檛 use are washed and recycled properly so they donB次元官网网址檛 end up in the landfill. The program also accepts empty full-sized bottles that can be refilled for those that need them.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 amazing to me how much need there is,B次元官网网址� McIntyre said, adding B次元官网网址渋t doesnB次元官网网址檛 take a lot of money B次元官网网址� $25 a month will keep five people clean with everything they need.B次元官网网址�
So with spring in the air, McIntyre is encouraging West Shore residents to go through their bathrooms and donate any products that wonB次元官网网址檛 be used. B次元官网网址淎nything in the bathroom you canB次元官网网址檛 use any more weB次元官网网址檒l take.B次元官网网址�
The organization also accepts bedding and towels are always a welcomed item. McIntyre noted she recently recieved 40 duvets from a hotel. She loaded them straight into her truck and took them over to Our Place. It was perfect timining as the society had just put out a call for blankets.
Items can be donated at Pacific Centre Family Services Associaiton, 345 Wale Rd., and now at the Goldstream B次元官网网址 GazetteB次元官网网址檚 office in Langford, 205-774 Goldstream Ave. To volunteer or for more information email anne@disasteraid.ca. To make a financial donation, go to and search for Disaster Aid Canada.
