I love the mission of Simply the Basics. While the housing situation is too overwhelming for me to face, SB provides the perfect opportunity to feel I’m making a difference in someone’s life. And the volunteer experience is awesome. Welcoming and warm (and simple!) we join Brittany in assembling essential hygiene and menstrual kits to give to people in need. It makes me feel so good. Thank you Brittany and SB for helping me help others.
Read MoreWe are very proud to announce our partnership with method, launched officially today but with many months of progress already! In the last year, method has supported Simply the Basics by hosting company wide volunteer days, presentations by Simply the Basics staff on hygiene health and equity, and most significantly – helping us to support the launch of the Simply the Basics Hygiene Bank Association™!
Read MoreThe Hygiene Bank Association™ will be the foremost authority on hygiene access and insecurity. We have established the first ever Quality Control Standards in free hygiene distribution that are required for organizations as they apply to become certified Hygiene Bank Association members.
Read MoreOur menstrual care packs are designed to provide people in need with the necessary resources to support their menstrual cycle with dignity and comfort - making a tangible difference in the lives of those who might otherwise go without.
Read MoreIn order for our neighbors in need to reach their goals, we also need staff and programs who support those individuals to be successful. That's why we're passionate about supporting other nonprofits to reach their missions through our three unique programs:
Read MoreWhether you're looking for supplies for yourself or your family the Hygiene Locator is a great place to start. We're committed to making hygiene supplies accessible to all, and we're proud to offer this valuable resource to our community.
Read MoreChoosing between competing financial needs, such as heat, food, or health is an impossible choice, especially with a family. We help to lessen the stressor of where someone can access laundry soap or diapers so our neighbors don’t need to make these choices.
Read MoreSimply the Basics and hygiene banks distribute millions of hygiene supplies! Last year alone, Simply the Basics distributed nearly 270 thousand essential hygiene products to people and families in need.
But where do hygiene banks even get all this hygiene - and in what ways can you help?
Read MoreEver since I have started volunteering with Simply the Basics, I have learned more about the lives of people experiencing homelessness rather than merely observing this community from a bystander perspective.
Read MoreMeet Tayhlor, who works in the healthcare field and first heard of SB at the National Reproductive Health Conference, now volunteering as an approved Ambassador to not only help spread awareness on the importance of hygiene access, but also to build a community around breaking the many stigmas about being homeless, and inspire people to take action in ways that feel right to them.
Read MoreSimply the Basics is one of the first ways I have truly been able to feel like I am working towards some sort of solution or providing care where it is needed, and I am really happy to be able to have this opportunity.
Read MoreSimply the Basics purpose of removing the dehumanization of handouts, and empowering people with the dignity of choice when it comes to receiving donations is something I struggled to find in other organizations I found. It’s not only something they say but can be seen in all the work they do.
Read MoreWe know that when someone is not able to access their basic hygiene needs, the consequences are much bigger than what we see at “face value”. Dental care is one of the greatest examples of this.
Learn about the consequences of poor dental care here.
Read MoreDue to high costs for cotton and plastic, we are seeing just the beginning of a major tampon shortage. For those that already struggle to access and afford their most basic need - this burden is astronomical!
This is a public help crisis that will impact half of the population, and it will only be getting worse in the coming months.
Read MoreAfter a few days without a cleansing shower, we can already see… and smell… the consequences! Our hair becomes oily, we have an unpleasant body odor, people may be less inclined to sit next to us. But what happens beyond those few days, when a person must go weeks or even months before they are able to get clean?
Read MoreEstablishing proper hygiene is key to a sense of self and better health. Many individuals suffer from preventable health conditions which could be avoided with regular access to proper hygiene and other basic needs. This issue is not just confined to the streets. Individuals experiencing poverty often forego basic needs so as to make ends meet. Learn about some of the implications on health when hygiene needs are not met.
Read MoreFollowing an extensive application process, we’re proud to share that Simply the Basics’ Hygiene Bank has been recognized as one of the top 50 programs (our of tens of thousands of applications!) for its contribution to improving the health and wellness of our community and creating equitable access to our most basic hygiene needs.
Read MoreIf you haven’t already guessed, I am talking about menstruation and the products that are necessary for each menstrual cycle. For over 16.9 million who menstruate and are living with limited income in the United States, almost half of them sometimes have to choose between purchasing food or menstrual products. A decision that will not be made lightly, but typically food will be the priority, leaving our menstrual health up to chance.
Read MoreMillions of people in Ukraine are in urgent need of humanitarian aid. A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in Ukraine as attacks of war put millions of lives at risk. Families fleeing violence are in urgent need of water, food, hygiene kits, and clothing. Fortunately, Simply the Basics is able to respond to one of these very important needs by providing support in the form of hygiene care to our partners on the ground!
Read MoreI’ve been fortunate to never personally know what it feels like to go without hygiene supplies. However, I do often consider what it may be like if I did not have access to the hygiene supplies I use daily and how that would change the way I am able to accomplish my goals and show up in the world. If you’ve never faced this hardship before, acknowledging that is OKAY! It’s what we do next, that matters.
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