How In-Kind Donations Are Changing Lives

Giving the Basics

At Giving the Basics, we believe that every donor is a hygiene hero. But what exactly is an “in-kind donation”? Simply put, an in-kind donation is the gift of physical goods or services, rather than money. When you donate hygiene products—like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, or other personal care items—you’re providing something tangible that can directly support someone in need. These essential products, often donated in bulk, can make a huge difference in the lives of individuals struggling to access basic hygiene necessities. When companies and individuals contribute large-scale donations, they help ensure that those who are most vulnerable have access to the hygiene products they need to maintain their health, dignity, and confidence. Large in-kind donations are a critical part of our mission at Giving the Basics, allowing us to reach entire communities and make a lasting, meaningful impact.

The Power of In-Kind Donations

In-kind donations are tangible items—such as bottles of shampoo, bars of soap, or tubes of toothpaste—that enable us to provide essential personal care products to individuals in need. One exemplary partner in this effort is Cohere Beauty. They have made a significant impact through their in-kind donations, providing over 20 pallets of hair care products—shampoo, conditioner, and more—to Giving the Basics. As Greg Campbell from Cohere Beauty shared, “These products are often overlooked necessities that can significantly improve a person’s self-esteem, personal health, and ability to participate in everyday activities.”

By partnering with organizations like Giving the Basics,, companies like Cohere Beauty find a meaningful outlet for surplus, damaged, or excess inventory. Instead of letting these products go to waste, we are able to ensure they’re distributed to those who need them most. We make efficient use of these donated items by stockpiling them at local pantries, schools, senior centers, child welfare agencies, and police stations, directly supporting communities in need. This partnership helps businesses keep their operations running smoothly while also creating a tangible, positive impact on their local communities.

As Greg put it, “Rather than letting surplus products go to waste, we saw the perfect opportunity to support a cause providing access to the essentials that people truly deserve.” By contributing in this way, companies like Cohere Beauty not only help alleviate immediate needs but also strengthen community ties and enhance their corporate responsibility efforts.

Why Businesses Like Cohere Beauty Are Key to Our Mission

Cohere Beauty’s partnership with Giving the Basics is a prime example of how in-kind donations can play a major role in addressing hygiene poverty. Greg Campbell shared that their company’s values are rooted in giving, making partnerships with organizations like ours a natural extension of their mission: “We understand the importance of personal care and how essential products like shampoo and conditioner can restore dignity and confidence to those in need.”

By donating these vital products, Cohere Beauty doesn’t just provide goods—they’re creating real change. The donations foster a culture of giving and demonstrate the company’s commitment to reducing waste while supporting those who need it most. As Greg emphasized, “Contributing in-kind donations allows businesses and community members to strengthen local ties, support those in need, and reduce waste by repurposing surplus goods.”

The Impact of Large-Scale In-Kind Donations

While small, everyday donations have an immediate impact, large-scale donations are essential in fulfilling our mission to address hygiene poverty on a broader scale. Partnerships with companies like Cohere Beauty enable us to meet the needs of entire communities. As Greg Campbell from Cohere Beauty noted, “These products are more than just items—they represent dignity, confidence, and a foundation for better health.”

By donating surplus products, businesses like Cohere Beauty play a crucial role in combating hygiene poverty and ensuring that basic hygiene products are available to those in need. Their contribution helps support the larger movement to ensure no one is left without the hygiene products they deserve. Whether it’s a small donation or a large-scale partnership, every contribution makes a meaningful difference. These donations provide more than just physical goods—they offer hope, dignity, and the foundation for better health and well-being. As Greg said, “Acts of generosity foster a sense of social responsibility and boost employee morale, inspiring others and creating a ripple effect that leads to greater social impact and lasting positive change.” Every donation, big or small, helps create that ripple and contributes to a more equitable world.

Why Donate?

Giving back through in-kind donations strengthens communities, fosters a sense of social responsibility, and helps reduce waste by repurposing surplus goods. As Greg Campbell shared, “Contributing in-kind donations allows businesses and community members to support those in need and create lasting positive change.” Whether you’re an individual or a business, your contribution can help change lives, one hygiene product at a time.

Let’s work together to ensure hygiene essentials are accessible to all. Whether you’re making a small donation or contributing to larger-scale efforts, you’re part of a movement that’s changing lives and creating healthier communities.

Get Involved Today

If you’re considering donating, whether it’s a large-scale donation or smaller contributions, every bit helps in our fight against hygiene poverty. Large donations of bulk or surplus products are especially vital, as they enable us to meet the needs of entire communities. We rely on partners who can donate pallets of essential hygiene products, including surplus and even damaged items, because these donations directly contribute to our mission of ensuring that no one is without the basics. 

If you’re a business interested in donating bulk products or learning more about how the process works, we encourage you to reach out to us at info@givingthebasics.org. We make the donation process as smooth as possible, ensuring that your surplus doesn’t go to waste. Whether you’re a large corporation or a small local business, partnering with us means your products will have an immediate and lasting impact on your community. Every donation, no matter the size, contributes to a world where everyone has access to the hygiene products they need and deserve. Let’s work together to make that vision a reality.

Allow Us to Re-Introduce Ourselves

Allow Us to Re-Introduce Ourselves

Hi there! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? But we’ve been busy—busy building hope, restoring dignity, and ensuring that something as fundamental as hygiene isn’t a barrier to health, success, or happiness for anyone. So, in case we haven’t had the chance to connect recently, we’re here to re-introduce ourselves with a renewed sense of purpose, energy, and, of course, a deep commitment to making hygiene accessible for everyone—no matter their circumstances.

Together, we’ve done so much, but there’s still so much more to be done. So, let’s refresh, re-engage, and dive into how we’re making an impact across the nation.

Who We Are

At Giving the Basics, we are a hygiene hub, on a mission to end hygiene poverty.

But what does that mean? It means we believe that everyone deserves the dignity that comes with feeling clean—whether it’s a child raising their hand in class without fear of embarrassment or a job-seeker walking into an interview confident that their appearance won’t be a barrier to their success. It means providing the most basic of personal care items to those in need—items that many of us take for granted—because hygiene is not a privilege, it’s a right.

Giving the Basics is a powerful network of volunteers, partners, and donors who are committed to providing hygiene essentials at no cost to individuals and families across the country. Through donations of personal care items, logistical partnerships, and a network of distribution points, we make sure that the basics are always within reach for those who need them most.

When it comes to the everyday products that affect our health, dignity, and confidence—everyone deserves them. But some people don’t have them. And that’s where we come in.

What We Do

So, what does all this look like in action?

Last year, we made a difference in the lives of thousands of people—students, families, seniors, individuals experiencing homelessness—and so many more. We focus on one thing: providing hygiene essentials where they are needed most. Our efforts are felt in local pantries, schools, senior centers, police stations, and child welfare agencies, creating hygiene safety nets in communities across the nation.

We believe that by coming together as a community, we can ensure that no one has to face the everyday challenges of life without the basic hygiene essentials to stay clean. Through the incredible efforts of our volunteers, partners, and supporters, we’re building a future where feeling clean is a starting point, not a luxury.

Here’s just a snapshot of the work we’ve done in 2024:

  • 3.4 million people served
  • 10.7 million products distributed
  • 3,611 volunteers making a difference
  • 2,376 community partners and locations reached

These numbers don’t just represent quantities—they represent dignity, hope, and a new opportunity for someone to feel confident, clean, and empowered.

Why We Do It

When you ask us why we do what we do, the answer is simple: because everyone deserves the basics.

And sometimes, that simple thing—a bar of soap, toothpaste, toilet paper—can make all the difference in the world. We see it every day in the stories of individuals whose lives are changed by the access to hygiene that so many of us take for granted.

Take, for instance, the story of one of the students we helped last year. This student shared:

“After I received the donations from Giving the Basics, I was coming to school feeling clean and confident. Much better than I had felt in a long time. I started reaching out and talking to people, because I wasn’t afraid anymore of what they would think of my appearance or my smell.”

Hear the full story:

This story is just one of many, and it’s the reason we do what we do every day. Because it’s not just about hygiene products—it’s about hope, dignity, and a fresh start.

Join Us

So, as we re-introduce ourselves, we ask you to come alongside us once more. We invite you to join our mission to eliminate hygiene poverty in America.

Every donation, whether large or small, helps us provide more essential products to people in need. More soap, more deodorant, more toothpaste, and more hope for a better future. It’s simple: when you give, you are empowering dignity, building confidence, and providing an essential stepping stone for health, education, and success. Hygiene isn’t just about cleanliness—it’s about giving people the chance to show up fully in life.

Donate now to make an immediate impact, and let’s continue working together to create a world where everyone has access to the basics. Thank you for taking the time to reconnect with us. Together, we can make 2025 the year we make hygiene poverty a thing of the past. Will you join us?

Mavericks and Fans Team Up to Deliver Dignity

Mavericks Team Up With Giving the Basics

In February, the KC Mavericks and their incredible fans proved that teamwork extends far beyond the ice. Through a month-long push to support Giving the Basics, they collected 646 hygiene products and raised $1,650 in cash, ensuring essential items like shampoo, conditioner, and deodorant reach those in need across Kansas City.

The Mavericks turned promotion into action, rallying fans at home games to donate and spotlighting the cause with a fun twist: a player competition between Victor Ostman, David Cotton and Daniel Amesbury. David Cotton emerged as the champ, securing a win for conditioner with his standout haul. Every contribution—whether a product dropped at the gate or a dollar donated online—helped stock shelves for families, students, and seniors.

A huge thank you to the Mavericks organization, their passionate players, and their generous fans. Your support doesn’t just provide essentials—it restores hope and dignity to thousands. Here’s to more victories, on and off the rink!

Giving the Basics: Tackling Hygiene Poverty with Events & Donations in 2024

Giving the Basics Janualry 2025

Every movement toward change begins with simple, intentional actions. In 2024, your support helped turn $4,828,626 in donated products into life-changing moments. Together, we tackled hygiene poverty, restored dignity, and expanded access to essential hygiene items for thousands of individuals and families. Let’s celebrate the milestones we achieved and look ahead to the future we’re building together.

Volunteers: The Heart of Our Mission

Behind every stocked shelf and hygiene product distributed is a volunteer making it happen. In 2024, 3,611 volunteers showed up in force, dedicating their time and energy to support families, students, and individuals in need.

Whether it was organizing hygiene drives, sorting products in our warehouse, or helping out at events, each volunteer brought our mission to life. One local family who volunteered monthly shared how their experience opened their kids’ eyes to the realities of hygiene poverty and ignited a passion to give back.

Your commitment makes this work possible. Thank you to every individual, family, and group who joined us in making a difference.

Want to join us in 2025? Volunteer with Giving the Basics today.

Events That Made a Difference

Our events in 2024 brought people together to create lasting change. Here’s a look back at the moments that mattered most:

Stock the Shelves (April)

Partnering with KMBC, we reached over 500 schools, stocking 511 with essential hygiene items. This initiative gave students the confidence to focus on learning—not their personal needs—and raised critical awareness about the impact of hygiene poverty on education.

Scramble for Dignity (May 16)

Over 40 teams joined us at Loch Lloyd for this charity golf tournament, raising $50,000 to support our mission. The event was a powerful example of what happens when businesses and community members rally together to make an impact.

Uncommon Leaders Luncheon (August 21)

We hosted 100 Kansas City professionals at our first-ever luncheon, celebrating leadership and service. Peter Malouk, CEO of Creative Planning, received our inaugural Human Dignity Award, inspiring attendees to use their personal and professional success for meaningful impact.

Hygiene Busters (October 24)

On October 24th, Giving the Basics hosted its 2nd Annual Open House, drawing over 250 guests to a Ghostbusters-themed celebration. Visitors enjoyed games, food, drinks, and a closer look at our mission through tours and updates on our community impact.

Hygiene for the Holidays (Giving Tuesday)

Our virtual Facebook event gave supporters a behind-the-scenes tour of our warehouse and raised nearly $75,000 worth of hygiene products for families in need. This generosity proved that even online efforts can bring hope and dignity to our community.

These events not only raised critical funds but also strengthened our network of advocates and partners. Ready to get involved in 2025? Explore our upcoming opportunities.

Expanding Access Through Hygiene Product Distribution

As America’s leading hygiene nonprofit, Giving the Basics continued to grow in 2024. By adding 129 new distribution partners, we expanded our reach to serve more families, schools, and shelters.

For organizations looking to provide essential products to those they serve, we’re here to help. Request hygiene products here.

Every product distributed—soap, deodorant, diapers—represents dignity restored and barriers broken. Your support makes this possible. Donate today to expand our impact.

Growing Our Team to Serve More Communities

As demand for hygiene products continues to grow, so does our team. Since November, we’ve added three new staff members whose expertise and dedication will help us reach more communities in 2025. Together, we’re building capacity to serve those who need it most.

Looking Ahead: A Vision for 2025

 

Reflecting on 2024, we’re already looking forward to what’s ahead. In 2025, we’ll distribute our 30 millionth product, launch new initiatives, and strengthen partnerships to further our mission of eliminating hygiene poverty.

Every milestone we reach is possible because of you—our volunteers, donors, and partners. Together, we’re creating a world where everyone can access the basics.

Let’s make 2025 unforgettable. Join us in restoring dignity and confidence to those who need it most.