How It Works

Simply the Basics launched the first large-scale Hygiene Bank in the nation in 2015. The purpose of our "Hygiene Bank" is to ensure organizations serving individuals and families living with limited income or experiencing homelessness always have access to their most basic needs, and help to redistribute the items they do not to avoid waste.

In the same way that a single meal will not solve hunger, a single hygiene kit will not solve hygiene-related health issues. As such, Simply the Basics provides ongoing hygiene supplies through a myriad of methods including direct to recipient care for sustained health and wellness.

☑ Hygiene Kits

We distribute two different types of customized hygiene kits to our Receiving Site Partners. Our ‘Daily Essentials’ Kits are filled with at least 10 different everyday essentials such as shampoo, body wash, socks, and deodorant. We also offer our ‘Rinse Free Necessities’ Kits which still includes many of the same items such as socks and dental care but also includes items like shower free body wipes and SPF to ensure we are meeting the needs of neighbors who may not have regular shower access. All of our kits are assembled within reusable water-resistant and mold proof tote bags.

☑ Bulk Supplies

Receiving sites we support choose the supplies to receive ensuring we are always delivering the community's most pressing needs. Selections can be based upon item size, culturally appropriate needs, scent, by age, and so forth.

☑ Hygiene Markets

Open and free Hygiene Markets hosted at various locations in the community for families and individuals to chose the hygiene supplies they need most.

☑ Individual Needs

We provide unique client needs for health, such as specified skin ointments, hair textures, and age specific products.

Why it works

☑ Quality

All supplies are processed through our Quality Control Standards, ensuring new, unexpired, and quality supplies.

☑ Feedback

We receive feedback from Recipients to continuously improve and learn about what products are most needed.

☑ Connection

By distributing supplies through our receiving site partners, staff is able to build trust and foster relationships and connections with clients to better help them navigate and enter services and programs.

☑ Consistency

One time hand outs do not solve hygiene insecurity. Only through consistent and reliable access can someone improve their health and reach their goals. This is why all of our deliveries are on a recurring schedule.

☑ Improved staff time

By helping to fill the gap and provide to our receiving site partners the supplies their programs and our community needs most, we are able to save over 8+ hours of their staff time. That’s a whole day saved!

“How beautiful and great to hear that you have this Mission to help people! I am so glad that I contacted you. It wasn’t easy to do and I never thought of asking someone to help me until I realized that I have not been able to support myself fully at this moment, until I realized that there was nothing wrong with speaking out honestly about my situation, and until I found out that there are people and places like yours who listen to me!”

— Simply the Basics Recipient

Are you an individual looking for support?

You can visit our Hygiene Locator to find a hygiene bank or hygiene service near you. If there is not yet a location listed in your area, you can contact us by clicking “Notify Simply the Basics of a Location Request”, and we will connect with you to find hygiene in you area.