A small step can make a big difference this February…
Hygiene poverty is being unable to afford everyday, essential personal care items that many of us take for granted – toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, nappies, washing-up liquid and detergent, and so on. Hygiene Hub, founded in 2019 by three young women, Ciára Dalton, Rosie McDonagh and Sorcha Killian, is an organisation that collects and distributes these items and gets them to the people who need them most.
Boots has been in partnership with Hygiene Hub since 2022. And throughout this month, Boots is matching donations to Hygiene Hub (in participating stores). There are now drop-off points in 15 Boots stores around the country (they’ve just added five new ones). You can now drop off your donations at six stores in Dublin – Dundrum, Carrickmines, Swords, Malahide, Liffey Valley and Blanchardstown.
How it works – add a few extra items to your own shop (eg the Boots Everyday range) and drop them off. Or take in any new, unused personal care and household cleaning essentials – including dental products, deodorant, shower gel, shampoo, nappies, toilet roll, razors, period products and hairbrushes – to the donation drop-off points in participating Boots stores. The Hygiene Hub’s volunteers then distribute these to Community Partners – a mix of organisations, charities and schools.
“Hygiene Hub is committed to ending hygiene poverty in Ireland and the additional drop-off points being added by Boots will make it easier for people to drop off donations,” says Hygiene Hub co-founder Ciára Dalton. “If you use an item, chances are someone else needs it too. Any unused, in-date personal care and hygiene items will be accepted.”
There are other local drop-off points, too – find your local one at www.hygienehub.ie/product-donation, and take along your shampoos, soaps etc. It’s a quick, easy and effective way to make a difference. You can also donate money to support HH’s work. www.hygienehub.ie
