The Soap Revolution is one of the core programs of GlobalMedic’s Grassroots Revolution. We include basic hygiene items in our Family Emergency Kits because we know they help keep people healthy. After a disaster, proper hygiene can prevent the spread of deadly illnesses like cholera. This is an issue we see internationally, but even in Canada many basic hygiene items are inaccessible to low-income families. We designed The Soap Revolution to help tackle this problem.
The Needs
In Canada, and particularly the Greater Toronto Area, many low-income families are accessing food banks and shelters to meet their basic needs.
People often prioritize food, water and other critical items, and often forget or simply cannot afford hygiene items. Keeping up with basic hygiene practices is essential for staying healthy. Something as simple as frequent hand washing can help prevent the spread of illnesses in Canada’s low income communities.
Our Solution
Our goal with this program is to create easier access to one of the most basic hygiene items – soap. By increasing access we can help lower the number of cases of easily preventable illnesses in low income communities. We can also alleviate the burden of having to choose critical items like food over hygiene items.
The soap we use in this program is 100% recycled soap from manufacturers. The soap is melted down, sanitized, and then reformed into new bars. Our volunteers package the soap into ‘family packs’ of 6 bars. These packs are then distributed through our existing food bank and shelter partners.
We can distribute bars of soap for a fraction of their retail price through the use of volunteers and partnering with Eco-Soap Bank.
Our Impact
The Soap Revolution launched in early 2020. Since then with the support of our volunteers and community partners we have distributed:
