It’s really not about us, its about you. YOU.

It’s about our supporters, collaborators, volunteers, individuals, and families we have the privilege to serve with and to serve.

It’s not about our accolades, it’s about everyone that has come together to provide so much to so many. Some we gratefully publicly acknowledge, many more we thank who choose to stay in the recesses giving and serving, preferring their anonymity.

Our goal, which is being fulfilled through you, is to meet the undermet and more often unmet need for hygiene products, and to alleviate the shame, desperation, and increased chance of illness and disease which often accompany hygiene poverty.

We can not afford to replace clothing with holes in them, diapers and wet wipes alone drain what little money we have left for personal products. We have resorted to watering down soap, using vinegar and baking soda to clean things. With 3 kids under 6 everything is always getting messy, fast and often. – Ashlie, Nov. 2024

What is hygiene poverty?

Hygiene poverty is when individuals and families cannot afford to purchase essential products to keep themselves and their homes clean.

• • Hygiene poverty can look like:
    • • • • Brushing teeth without toothpaste
          • Bathing without soap
          • Only washing the children’s clothes
          • Reusing diapers
          • Borrowing from family and friends

Its effects

Good hygiene is essential for staying healthy.

• • Diseases as a result of poor hygiene pose a risk to everyone, but people with weakened immune systems, elderly, and children are the most vulnerable.
    • • • • The rate of oral disease is widespread, the United States spends more than $124 billion on dental care costs each year. (Dettol)
  • Poor personal hygiene often results in rejection from others.
    • • • • Researchers have found in looking into the roots of rejection evidence that the pain of rejection is not very different from the pain of a physical injury.
          • People have a fundamental need to belong. (Weir, 2012. p. 50)

Who’s there to help?

There are many public programs to help families with health care, food and housing, but none to help with hygiene products.

• • SNAP and WIC (programs used by most lower income households) do not cover hygiene products. (America’s Unspoken Hygiene Crisis)
  • 211 Wisconsin provides information and support for households in need throughout the State, but no category exists for help with hygiene products. (211 Wisconsin)

We’re here to help!

We’re fighting against hygiene poverty, to alleviate the shame, desperation, and increased risk of illness and disease which often ensue.

• • Serving Southeastern Wisconsin moderate to very low-income Individuals and families.
  • Provide hygiene products on a regular basis for the entire household, adults, children, infants and their home.
  • Some of the products provided are shampoo, deodorant, body wash, toothpaste, toothbrush, baby bath/shampoo, baby wipes, dishwashing detergent, multi-purpose cleaner, laundry detergent, and toilet paper.
  • Since 2017 we have already served 5,934 households, 69,462 hygiene products.

It takes all of us

“Hygiene poverty is not just a matter of personal inconvenience; it’s a systemic issue with far-reaching implications for public health. By acknowledging the root causes of hygiene poverty and taking concrete steps to address them, we can create a world where everyone has access to the basic hygiene resources they need to lead healthy lives, and in the event of illness, what they need to recover safely.” (Mitchell, 2024)

References:

dettol, Dirty Hands, Dirty Secrets: Diseases Caused by Poor Hygiene, https://www.dettol.co.za/expert-advice/personal-health-hygiene/effects-of-poor-hygiene/. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

Weir, K., 2012, Science Watch The pain of social rejection, American Psychological Association, https://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/04/rejection. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

American’s Unspoken Hygiene Crisis, The Century Foundation,  https://tcf.org/content/commentary/americas-unspoken-hygiene-crisis/. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

Need help? We’re here, 211 Wisconsin, https://211wisconsin.communityos.org/. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

Mitchell, E., February 23, 2024, Hygiene Poverty and Its Impact on Infection Control and Prevention, EOScu, https://blog.eoscu.com/blog/hygiene-poverty-and-its-impact-on-infection-control-and-prevention. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.