PUTTING essential hygiene first has led to national charity The Village linking up with the Solihull Hygiene Bank.
Launched late last year, Solihull Hygiene Bank is part of a grassroots movement to support people struggling with the stigma of hygiene poverty.
Often run by volunteers, hygiene banks rely on people and businesses to collect and donate toiletries most needed by local people who can’t afford to buy such items.
Items in high demand, such as period and baby products, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant and PPE, are then supplied for free to those in need.
Since ‘The Village of Solihull’ project was established in November, over 47,000 hygiene items have been distributed to community groups across North Solihull and parts of Birmingham, helping more than 600 local families who would otherwise struggle to pay for basic supplies.
And the charity intends to continue its initiative beyond the pandemic due to the ongoing demand and the positive response from local partners working on the frontline.
Daisy-May Super, Village of Solihull project manager, said: “We are so grateful to all of the businesses and community members who have supported the Hygiene Bank.
“The amount of donations that we have received has made such a huge difference in a short period of time, and has meant that we can support a large and diverse range of community partners to ensure that anyone in need can access them.”
The Village Charity is now calling on local people to provide additional help where they can to enable the Hygiene Bank to be sustained and grow further.
Based at Solihull Moors FC at Damson Park, The Village needs support with logistics, including people to lend a hand when new deliveries arrive; to help with delivering donations to local partners and dropping-off flyers at key sites to broaden awareness of the service.
To find out how to get involved email: Daisy-May Super: [email protected]
All volunteer expenses will be covered.
