463!

Thank you for donating 463 bars of soap to people in need of basic hygiene products.

 Basic hygiene is something most of take for granted.  But for many, it's not so simple.  Government benefits can't be used to purchase basic hygiene products like soap, shampoo, toilet paper, tampons  or laundry detergent.  Plus, these products can be really expensive.  If the choice is food or laundry detergent, most people will choose food.

That's why donations of hygiene products are so important.  These donations make it possible for people to live with dignity.  No one should miss a job opportunity because she can't wash or have clean clothes.  And no child should ever be made fun of because she isn't clean. Yet that happens all to often.  

Karen Couch, the director of the Salina Community Food Bank said the food bank had a 35 percent increase in need between 2019 and 2020.  And while we all hope 2020 was exceptional, the fact is many are still and will continue to struggle.  Many think of donating around the winter holidays but summer is a time of great need.  Children are out of school so school lunches need to be replaced and the heat of summer can make bathing and clothes washing even more important.

 According to a survey by Feeding America and Proctor & Gamble  (conducted in 2013):  

Being able to give back feels good.  It was good to meet and talk with the people who are running these organizations and making a difference in their communities.  In fact, the local newspaper wrote an article about your donations, and the story was the Good News of the Day!  

In addition to this year's donations, last year we donated more than 200 bars of soap to the battered women's shelter, the Cat's Corner student food pantry at the local university, and the LGBTQ support organization at a local college.  We've also donated to Ashby House, a recovery and rehabilitation opportunity for women.  Here's a video about that donation!  

Can we make it 2000 this year?  I'm willing if you are!