Most people turn to their overstuffed closets or old toy bins when preparing for a donation haul. The opportunity to do some good gets viewed as a concurrent chance to declutter the home—a convenient and eco-friendly excuse to donate! While charities greatly appreciate clothing—and other household accessories—don't forget about basic yet often overlooked products. Though the items may be high in demand, charities and shelters are usually well in need of essential hygiene products.
Amplify your impact this year by reviewing hygiene kit donation items you should donate to charity and updating your standard donation list. Donating these products can help a person or family in need to feel fresh and build the confidence needed to get ahead in the world.
The Importance of Donating Hygiene Products
High Demand, Minimal Access
Imagine not having access to a shower or toothbrush for days or not owning a razor, feminine products, or clean undergarments when you need them most. Unfortunately, this is the everyday reality for many low-income families and people across the nation, including those experiencing homelessness.
While the government-funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly labeled as the Food Stamp Program, may help people to acquire many groceries, SNAP excludes them from using the benefits for toiletry items. The lack of government assistance for items like diapers, toothpaste, deodorant, and more, leads many folks to charities that receive these products through donations.
Because most, if not all, hygienic products must be donated unused and unopen, the majority of them end up being donated brand new. Charity organizations often struggle to find funding to purchase new items and rely on the sanctity of selfless donors for hygiene donations.
So, What Can They Do?
Access to essential hygiene products greatly influences overall human health. Stronger self-esteem and confidence are just a couple of effects of establishing quality hygiene routines, like brushing teeth and hair. Self-awareness and esteem play vital roles in our mental health wellness, making it important to prioritize actions that boost them.
Like our mental health, our physical health has a correlated relationship with basic hygiene. Brushing your teeth with regularity prevents mouth disease and common teeth issues. Washing hair and body avoids diseases like athlete’s foot and headlice. The inability to bathe with some frequency can result in a buildup of bacteria on skin that causes parasitic disease. In short, inaccessibility to hygiene items can amount to a myriad of health issues, disenfranchising low-income persons further. Ergo, shelters must provide items that allow for hygiene routines so those impoverished or homeless can strive toward greater well-being.
Types of Products
There is a wide variety of hygiene items you should donate to charity that differs by purpose. From soap to face masks, lots of people take advantage of the array of health and safety items offered by charities and shelters. Additionally, an organization’s ability to provide these items improves the health and safety of communities.
So, what hygiene items are organizations looking for? 2Moda has provided a meticulous list of top donation items. Remember, to donate hygiene products, the majority of these materials must be unused and unopened to be accepted by charity.
Dental Hygiene
Good dental hygiene is vastly important to health. Help people in need maintain a healthy mouth and strong, long-lasting teeth with these dental hygiene donations:
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- Mouthwash
Menstrual Hygiene
Menstrual hygiene is crucial to the well-being and convenience of those who menstruate but isn’t always an option for those who are low-income or experiencing homelessness. Menstrual hygiene products can be expensive and are typically needed in large quantities. Purchasing these once a month just isn’t feasible for people in strained financial situations. These products, like diapers, are not offered through benefit programs, making them that much more difficult to obtain. For people who menstruate, you can donate feminine products:
- Pads
- Reusable Pads – These cloth pads can be washed and reused, unlike regular pads. They make great donations by reducing the need for a large inventory of menstruation products.
- Tampons
- Menstrual cups
- Period underwear
Undergarments
Changing into a clean pair of underwear after a shower is something that many folks take for granted. Some of the most basic clothing items such as socks and underwear are one of the most under-donated, yet most needed, charitable items. These crucial hygiene kit donation items are needed for all ages and sizes, so adding them to your donation list is highly encouraged. Appropriate undergarments to donate would include:
- Men’s boxers and briefs
- Girls’ underwear and boys’ boxers and briefs
- Women’s underwear
- Bras
Bathing Items
When thinking of hygienic items, bathing items most often come to mind. Luckily, most donated hygiene kits and supplies include bathing products like shampoo or soap. These are best donated in small or travel sizes for portability. If you are looking to contribute toward bathing care, consider donating the following:
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Body wash or shower gel
- Face and body soap
- Shower caps
There are additional toiletry items that make beneficial basic hygiene donations, such as:
- Towels
- Toilet paper
- Deodorant
- Shaving cream
- Razors
- Antibiotic ointment
- Combs and hairbrushes
- Nail files and clippers
Infant Care
Many charities have missions dedicated to providing help to mothers. Women’s shelters are especially appreciative of these kinds of donations due to their high volume of young children. These items are essential to a baby’s growth. As they get used up quickly, having a plentiful supply is crucial. Items include:
- Baby formula
- Diapers and pull-ups
- Wipes
PPE
Amidst the pandemic, it is important that everyone in the public have access to proper PPE to keep communities safe and healthy. Donating Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) decreases people in need’s risk of experiencing health issues and is valuable to basic hygiene. Items include:
- Sanitary wipes
- Hand sanitizer
- Disposable and reusable face masks
- Gloves
Consider donating first-aid equipment as well. A fundamental first-aid kit consists of gauze pads, band-aids, roller gauze, antibiotic spray or ointment, medical tape, elastic bandage, and trauma sheers.
Express your holiday cheer by giving to charitable organizations in your community this year. Reach out to your local charity organization to see which of the mentioned hygiene products they need most. Providing hygiene fundamentals can make an immensely positive impact on families in need within your area. From wholesale women bags to socks, 2Moda has a huge variety of bundles for donating new materials at a feasible price. Contact us today to learn how you can make a difference in your local community.
