We’re delighted to share that we will be supporting The Hygiene Bank Hastings this Christmas, in order to provide local people and organisations with greater access to hygiene products in 2022.
We aim to raise a huge £500 for the local branch of the charity, which will enable them to buy more hygiene products for people in need, supplementing items donated by the general public. The majority of products collected, such as toothpaste, shampoo and deodorants, are distributed to local schools, refuges and food banks in the Hastings and Bexhill-on-Sea areas.
The Hygiene Bank Hastings was set up by Chris Knott Insurance in 2018 and is headed by Director Alison Acland and managed by company volunteers. To date, they have distributed more than 4.2 tonnes of personal and household hygiene products, supporting more than 16 local community groups. These include the Seaview Project and X-Trax, FSN, the Hastings Trussell Trust and many local primary schools, all of which help people who find themselves plunged into hygiene poverty.
Previous campaigns have included a pier-to-pier fundraiser, in collaboration with the Hygiene Bank Eastbourne, which saw a team of volunteers walk between the two coastal towns’ piers, raising more than £1,000 in the process.
Says Alison Acland: “Many of us take it for granted that we can buy the basic products we need, but lots of people are not so lucky. Far too many people are having to choose between paying the rent, paying for food or paying for basic hygiene products. Not only does it affect their physical health, but their mental wellbeing and confidence too. Access to The Hygiene Bank Hastings means they don’t have to choose. By raising £500, we can help even more local people in the new year.”
Amy Thompson, Partnership Manager at The Hygiene Bank’s head office, adds: “Alison and her team have led the way with many innovative and successful aspects of running a grassroots project, such as organising events, fundraising, using social media and creating links with organisations and supporters in the community.
“We are unbelievably proud of our Hastings grassroots team and cannot express our gratitude enough for the impact they make on their community.”
If you’d like to help us reach our £500 fundraising target by the new year, you can make a donation on our JustGiving page. Of course, if you’d like to donate unopened products to charity, there’s a list of items and drop-off points on The Hygiene Bank Hastings Facebook Page.
