Corporate Fundraiser Raises More Than $64,000 to Support Hygiene Access

Scramble For Dignity Golf Tournament 2026

Corporate Fundraiser Raises More Than $64,000 to Support Hygiene Access

Scramble for Dignity Demonstrates the Power of a Corporate Fundraiser

When businesses invest in their communities, the impact extends far beyond the workplace. That was evident at the 6th Annual Scramble for Dignity, a corporate fundraiser hosted by Moonshot Solutions that brought together sponsors, golfers, and community supporters to help provide essential hygiene products to those in need.

Held on June 8 at Falcon Ridge Golf Club, this year’s event raised more than $64,000 for Giving the Basics. Those funds will help thousands of students, families, and seniors access hygiene products that are not covered by government assistance programs.

The event served as a powerful reminder that a corporate fundraiser can do more than raise money—it can bring people together around a shared mission and create lasting change in the community.

Why Corporate Fundraisers Matter

Across the country, businesses are looking for meaningful ways to engage employees, strengthen community relationships, and make a tangible difference. A corporate fundraiser provides an opportunity to do all three.

Whether through a golf tournament, workplace giving campaign, volunteer event, or product drive, corporate fundraisers allow companies to leverage their resources, networks, and influence to support important causes.

For Giving the Basics, partnerships with businesses are critical to addressing hygiene insecurity. Hygiene products such as shampoo, deodorant, soap, toothpaste, and feminine hygiene products are basic necessities, yet they cannot be purchased with SNAP or WIC benefits. As a result, many individuals and families are forced to choose between hygiene products and other essential expenses.

Corporate partners help bridge that gap.

A Day of Golf, Community, and Impact

The Scramble for Dignity brought together an incredible group of participants who spent the day networking, enjoying friendly competition, and supporting a cause that impacts thousands throughout the region.

Golfers participating in the Scramble for Dignity tournamentGolfers participating in the Scramble for Dignity tournamentGolfers participating in the Scramble for Dignity tournamentGolfers participating in the Scramble for Dignity tournamentThe event was made possible through the leadership and dedication of Laura Sherman and the Moonshot Solutions team, whose commitment to the mission continues to inspire others to get involved.

Giving the Basics is also grateful for the generous sponsors who helped make the event possible:

  • Moonshot Solutions
  • Edelman and Thompson
  • Cerris Systems
  • Ross Family Foundation
  • Kompass Kapital
  • The Miller Group
  • The Hartford / Stella Maris Family Office
  • Hi-Genes Janitorial
  • Crawford Sales Company

Their support demonstrates how businesses can work together to create meaningful community impact.

The Impact of Corporate Giving

Every dollar raised through this corporate fundraiser will help provide access to hygiene products for individuals who might otherwise go without.

For a student, that could mean having the confidence to attend school and participate in class. For a senior on a fixed income, it could mean not having to choose between purchasing medication or purchasing soap. For a family facing financial hardship, it could mean one less difficult decision during an already challenging time.

These everyday essentials may seem small, but their impact is profound.

Looking Ahead

The success of the Scramble for Dignity highlights what is possible when businesses, community leaders, and nonprofit organizations work together.

Giving the Basics extends its heartfelt thanks to Moonshot Solutions, all event sponsors, participants, and volunteers who helped make this year’s corporate fundraiser a success.

Together, we are helping ensure that dignity is within reach for everyone.

Interested in Hosting a Corporate Fundraiser?

Whether you’re interested in organizing a golf tournament, employee giving campaign, hygiene drive, volunteer event, or sponsorship opportunity, Giving the Basics can help your company make a meaningful impact.

Contact Nick Hardesty, Nick@GivingtheBasics.org to learn how your organization can become part of the solution to hygiene insecurity and help provide dignity through hygiene in our community.

May 2026 Volunteer Highlights

Small Actions, Lasting Impact

KPMG Volunteer Group

KPMG Volunteer Group

Every volunteer shift at Giving the Basics starts the same way: a group of people walks through our doors ready to help. Some arrive with coworkers looking for a team-building experience. Others come with friends, family members, or community organizations hoping to make a difference. What many don’t expect is to leave with a new understanding of just how many people struggle to access basic hygiene products.

Throughout May, volunteers transformed compassion into action at our hygiene bank. Over the course of the month, 287 volunteers from 20 different groups joined us to sort, package, and prepare an incredible 236,889 hygiene products for distribution throughout our service area. Those volunteers represented 18 corporate teams and 2 community groups, each bringing their own energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to serving others.

While the numbers are impressive, they tell only part of the story. Behind every packaged product is a person who will be able to start their day with dignity, confidence, and a sense of normalcy that many of us take for granted.

Seeing the Need Up Close

One of the most powerful aspects of volunteering at Giving the Basics is witnessing the scale of the need firsthand.

Many people know that families struggle with food insecurity. Fewer realize that millions of Americans also face hygiene insecurity—having to choose between purchasing necessities like soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, and other personal care items or paying for rent, utilities, transportation, and groceries.

Volunteers often leave with a deeper appreciation for the role these products play in everyday life.

Bank of America Volunteers

Bank of America Volunteers

As one Bank of America volunteer shared:

“I think I have come to realize the sheer number of people who really need these products. It’s more than you could possibly imagine.”

That realization is one we hear frequently. Hygiene products are essential to health, education, employment, and overall well-being, yet they are often unavailable through traditional assistance programs. Through the work completed by volunteers, these products reach schools, food pantries, shelters, and nonprofit partners that serve individuals and families throughout our community.

The work may seem simple—sorting, counting, packing, and organizing—but the impact reaches far beyond our warehouse walls.

Corporate Volunteering with Purpose

Corporate volunteering continues to be one of the most impactful ways organizations support Giving the Basics. In May alone, corporate teams accounted for the vast majority of volunteer participation, bringing together employees who wanted to spend time making a meaningful difference in their community.

What makes these volunteer experiences unique is that they create benefits on multiple levels. Employees strengthen relationships with coworkers, organizations demonstrate their commitment to community engagement, and together they help address a critical need affecting thousands of local families.

Blue KC Volunteering

Blue KC Volunteers

One volunteer from Blue KC reflected on their experience:

“I really like this organization. The world needs more places like this. It was great working with my team, and the provided music was a HUGE plus. Thanks so much for the opportunity.”

Volunteer shifts are intentionally designed so that teams can see the direct results of their efforts. In just a few hours, a group can help prepare thousands of products that will soon be distributed through our network of partner agencies.

There is something powerful about watching coworkers work side by side toward a common goal and knowing that every box completed will ultimately support someone in need.

More Than a Volunteer Shift

Many volunteers tell us they are surprised by how much can be accomplished in a relatively short amount of time.

What may begin as a corporate volunteer day often becomes an eye-opening experience that leaves a lasting impression long after the shift has ended.

A Blue KC volunteer shared:

“I love the mission and the dedication behind it. The friendly and helpful staff. The process was amazing. So much can be accomplished in a relatively short span of time. Also, the number of donated materials demonstrating the kindness of others. Truly a rewarding experience.”

Comments like these remind us that volunteering is about more than completing a task. It is about connecting with a mission, understanding a community need, and becoming part of a larger movement dedicated to helping others.

Every product sorted and packaged represents generosity from donors, dedication from volunteers, and hope for the individuals who will eventually receive those items.

The Power of Hygiene

Perhaps the most moving moments in our volunteer sessions occur when someone shares a personal connection to the mission.

Propio Language Services Volunteers
Propio Language Services Volunteers

For one volunteer from Propio, the importance of hygiene products was not theoretical—it was deeply personal.

“I spent two years doing archaeology and living out of my car. The feeling of actually being able to take a shower and feel clean is so powerful.”

Their words capture something that statistics alone cannot.

Access to hygiene products affects how people feel about themselves. It impacts confidence when applying for a job, comfort while attending school, and the ability to participate fully in everyday life. Something as simple as a bar of soap or a tube of toothpaste can help restore dignity during difficult circumstances.

At Giving the Basics, we believe everyone deserves access to these essentials. Our volunteers help make that belief a reality every day.

Looking Ahead

As we reflect on the impact made throughout May, we are filled with gratitude for every individual and organization that chose to spend time serving alongside us.

The efforts of 287 volunteers resulted in 236,889 hygiene products being prepared for distribution. Those products will reach people facing challenges we may never fully see, but whose lives will be made a little easier because someone chose to show up and help.

Whether they came as part of a corporate volunteer team, a community organization, or as individuals looking to give back, each volunteer played an important role in strengthening our community.

Together, they demonstrated that addressing hygiene insecurity is not the responsibility of one organization alone. It takes businesses, community groups, donors, volunteers, and advocates all working together to ensure that everyone has access to the necessities they need to thrive.

To every volunteer who joined us in May: thank you for helping transform everyday products into opportunities for dignity, confidence, and hope.

For many volunteers, seeing the scale of need firsthand creates a deeper understanding of why hygiene products matter. Unlike food assistance programs, hygiene items are often not covered by government assistance programs, leaving many families to choose between essentials.

Corporate volunteering allows teams to step away from their desks and make a tangible difference together. Volunteers consistently tell us that the experience is both meaningful and rewarding.

TELUS Volunteers
TELUS Volunteers

Hallmark Volunteers
Hallmark Volunteers

KC Marriott Business Council Volunteers
KC Marriott Business Council Volunteers

ARR Architecture Volunteers
BRR Architecture Volunteers

NFM Volunteers
NFM Volunteers

Children’s Mercy Volunteers
Children’s Mercy Volunteers

Symplr Volunteers
symplr Volunteers

symplr Volunteers
KPMG Volunteers

Mariner Volunteers
Mariner Volunteers

Stella Maris Volunteers
Stella Maris Volunteers

The Difference Between a Hygiene Bank and a Food Pantry

Hygiene Bank versus Food Bank

When most people think about poverty relief, they think about food banks and food pantries. While food assistance organizations play a critical role in fighting hunger, there is another basic need affecting millions of Americans every day that often goes overlooked: hygiene products.

That’s where a hygiene bank comes in.

At Giving the Basics, we often hear people ask, “Is a hygiene bank the same thing as a food pantry?” The short answer is no. While both organizations help individuals and families experiencing hardship, a hygiene bank focuses specifically on providing essential hygiene products that government assistance programs do not cover.

Understanding the difference between a hygiene bank and a food pantry is essential to understanding the hidden crisis of hygiene poverty in America.

What Is a Hygiene Bank?

A hygiene bank is an organization dedicated to collecting, distributing, and providing personal hygiene and household cleaning products to people in need.

Unlike food pantries, which primarily distribute food, a hygiene bank supplies essentials such as:

  • Soap
  • Shampoo
  • Toothpaste
  • Toothbrushes
  • Deodorant
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Toilet paper
  • Diapers
  • Laundry detergent
  • Dish soap
  • Cleaning supplies

These are products most people use every day without thinking twice. Yet for millions of families, these essentials are financially out of reach.

At Giving the Basics, we call this issue hygiene poverty — the inability to afford basic hygiene products necessary for health, dignity, work, and school participation.

As America’s Hygiene Hub, Giving the Basics has distributed more than 36 million hygiene products to over 3.6 million people through a network of schools, nonprofits, senior centers, veterans organizations, shelters, and community agencies.

What Is a Food Pantry?

A food pantry is a community-based organization that distributes groceries and food items to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.

Food pantries help address hunger by providing:

  • Shelf-stable foods
  • Fresh produce
  • Frozen foods
  • Canned goods
  • Dairy products
  • Meat
  • Bread and grains

Food pantries are a vital part of the hunger relief network in the United States. Many work alongside food banks, which store and distribute large quantities of food to local agencies.

Because hunger is a visible and widely discussed issue, food assistance programs have developed strong national support systems. Government programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) exist specifically to help families purchase food.

But hygiene products fall into a completely different category.

The Biggest Difference Between a Hygiene Bank and a Food Pantry

The most important difference between a hygiene bank and a food pantry is this:

Food assistance programs exist. Hygiene assistance programs largely do not.

Federal programs like SNAP and WIC cannot be used to purchase hygiene items like soap, deodorant, toothpaste, toilet paper, diapers, or laundry detergent.

That means families already struggling to afford food, housing, transportation, and healthcare must also find room in their budget for hygiene essentials.

For many households, that simply isn’t possible.

According to research highlighted by Giving the Basics:

  • One in three low-income families struggles to afford basic household necessities, including hygiene products.
  • Thirty-three percent of low-income households report bathing without soap when they cannot afford hygiene supplies.
  • Nearly three-quarters of families experiencing hygiene insecurity skip laundry or dishwashing to conserve products.

This is why hygiene banks are so important.

A hygiene bank fills the gap left behind by traditional assistance systems.

Why Hygiene Products Matter

Some people mistakenly view hygiene products as “extras” instead of necessities. But hygiene impacts nearly every part of daily life.

Without access to hygiene products:

  • Students may miss school
  • Adults may struggle to maintain employment
  • Families may experience increased health issues
  • Children may face bullying or embarrassment
  • Seniors may lose dignity and independence

Research shows hygiene insecurity directly affects educational outcomes and workforce participation.

Imagine trying to attend a job interview without deodorant, wash your clothes without detergent, or go to school without toothpaste or menstrual products.

For millions of Americans, this is not hypothetical.

Hygiene products help people show up confidently at school, work, medical appointments, and in their communities.

At Giving the Basics, we believe hygiene is not a luxury. It is a basic human need.

Why Food Pantries Often Cannot Meet Hygiene Needs

Many people assume food pantries already provide hygiene products. While some food pantries distribute limited toiletries when donations are available, most are not equipped to consistently supply hygiene essentials.

There are several reasons for this:

Hygiene products are expensive

Unlike canned food drives, hygiene drives are less common and often generate fewer donations.

There is no government reimbursement

Food programs often receive federal support. Hygiene programs generally do not.

Demand is extremely high

Products like deodorant, diapers, toothpaste, and toilet paper are consistently among the most requested items at community agencies.

Hygiene products are harder to source

Because they are not perishable, hygiene items are not donated through traditional food supply chains at the same volume as food products.

This is why dedicated hygiene banks like Giving the Basics are essential.

How Giving the Basics Is Different

Giving the Basics is not simply a food pantry with toiletries.

Giving the Basics is a hygiene bank dedicated exclusively to hygiene insecurity and hygiene poverty.

Through partnerships with schools, nonprofits, veterans programs, law enforcement agencies, senior centers, foster organizations, shelters, and social service agencies, Giving the Basics distributes hygiene products where they are needed most.

This specialized approach allows Giving the Basics to:

  • Source large-scale hygiene donations
  • Purchase products in bulk
  • Build efficient distribution systems
  • Respond quickly to community needs
  • Focus entirely on hygiene insecurity

The organization serves thousands of people every month with products many families cannot otherwise afford.

And because hygiene poverty often remains hidden, Giving the Basics also works to educate communities about the importance of hygiene access.

The Growing Need for Hygiene Banks

The need for hygiene banks continues to grow nationwide.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 35 million Americans live below the federal poverty line.

At the same time:

  • Inflation continues to increase household expenses
  • Hygiene product costs continue to rise
  • Many working families still live paycheck to paycheck

When budgets become tight, hygiene products are often among the first items sacrificed.

Families dilute soap with water, reuse diapers, skip laundry, or go without essential products entirely.

This growing reality has increased awareness around the importance of hygiene banks and organizations like Giving the Basics.

How You Can Help a Hygiene Bank

Hygiene poverty is solvable — but only when communities come together.

You can support Giving the Basics and help expand access to essential hygiene products by:

Even a small donation can help provide soap, toothpaste, deodorant, diapers, and other essentials to individuals and families facing hardship.

Every product distributed represents more than hygiene. It represents dignity, confidence, health, and hope.

Get Involved with Giving the Basics

At Giving the Basics, we believe no one should have to choose between buying food and buying soap.

Food pantries play an important role in fighting hunger. But hygiene banks fill another critical gap — helping families access the everyday essentials that allow them to live with dignity.

As America’s Hygiene Hub, Giving the Basics is leading the movement to end hygiene poverty and expand access to basic hygiene products for all.

How Bulk Hygiene Donations Save Nonprofits Thousands

Bulk Hygiene Product Donations

How Bulk Hygiene Donations Save Nonprofits Thousands

For nonprofits, especially hygiene banks working to meet basic needs, every dollar matters. At the same time, demand for hygiene products like shampoo, deodorant, soap, and feminine care items continues to rise in schools, shelters, and community programs.

That’s where bulk hygiene donations become transformational.

For organizations like Giving the Basics, bulk product partnerships are not just helpful — they are foundational to how we operate. They allow us to stretch every donated dollar further, reach more people, and ensure dignity is accessible to those who need it most.

The True Cost of Hygiene Poverty

Hygiene products are often overlooked in traditional assistance programs, yet they are essential for health, confidence, attendance at school and work, and overall well-being.

When nonprofits have to purchase every product they distribute, the cost adds up quickly. Even basic hygiene items like soap can become expensive at scale.

That’s why bulk donations from corporate partners play such a critical role: they eliminate major procurement costs and allow organizations to focus resources on distribution, outreach, and impact.

Why Companies Choose to Donate in Bulk

For product-based companies, bulk donation is not just philanthropy — it is also a smart operational decision.

One of our partners, MegaBabe Beauty, shared how bulk donation aligns with their mission and business reality:

“Megababe is built on the idea that feeling comfortable in your body shouldn’t be a luxury. Bulk donation is one of the most direct ways we can live that out beyond the shelf.”

Many companies face periodic excess inventory due to:

  • Packaging updates
  • Formula or product changes
  • Overproduction

Rather than letting usable product sit in storage or go to waste, bulk donation allows companies to redirect that inventory toward meaningful community impact.

As MegaBabe explained:

“Bulk donations allow us to put that product to real use instead of letting it collect dust in a warehouse or, worse, go to a landfill.”

This approach not only reduces waste — it turns a logistical challenge into measurable social impact.

Why Distribution Partners Matter

Bulk donation only works when there is a trusted system to move products into communities efficiently.

MegaBabe emphasized this clearly:

“A reliable distribution partner means we can give with confidence that the product is handled properly, is reaching the right communities, and making a real impact.”

This is where infrastructure matters.

At Giving the Basics, donated products are:

  • Received through established in-kind partnerships
  • Sorted and organized by volunteers
  • Packaged into quantities for distribution
  • Picked up or shipped directly to schools, shelters, and community partners

This system ensures donated goods move quickly and efficiently from warehouse to the people who need them most.

Turning Product Donations into Greater Impact

Bulk donations don’t just reduce costs — they multiply impact.

Because of generous in-kind partners, Giving the Basics is able to:

  • Distribute $3 in products for every $1 donated
  • Receive large scale shipments of product, more than 5 million hygiene products from partners so far this year
  • Rely on volunteers to sort and package donations, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in operational costs

Every donated product represents:

  • One less item that must be purchased
  • Moments of dignity and hope for the person served

The Human Impact Behind Every Donation

While bulk donation is efficient from an operational standpoint, its greatest value is human.

MegaBabe shared:

“Our team pours a lot of care into these products, and knowing they’re reaching people who might not otherwise have access to them is more meaningful than any sales number.”

That sentiment reflects what we see every day.

A bottle of shampoo or stick of deodorant may seem small, but for a student or parent facing financial strain, it can mean:

  • Feeling confident at school or work
  • Reduced stress in daily life
  • A sense of dignity and normalcy

What Companies Look for in Donation Partnerships

Effective bulk donation programs require more than just excess inventory — they require alignment.

MegaBabe shared the key considerations they evaluate:

  • Product quality and usability
  • Credibility and reach of the receiving organization
  • Strong distribution infrastructure
  • Confidence that donation will create real impact

As they put it:

“We’d rather do it right than just do it fast.”

That mindset is what makes partnerships sustainable and impactful long-term.

Why Bulk Donation Works

In a single sentence, MegaBabe captured the heart of it:

“Because Megababe believes everyone deserves to feel good in their body, and donation is one of the ways we try to make our products as accessible as possible.”

For nonprofits like Giving the Basics, that accessibility is what turns corporate generosity into community impact at scale.

Final Thought

Bulk hygiene donations are more than supply chain efficiency — they are a powerful bridge between corporate surplus and human need.

They reduce waste, lower nonprofit costs, and most importantly, ensure that essential hygiene products reach the people who need them most.

When companies and nonprofits align around dignity, the impact multiplies far beyond what either could achieve alone.

Partner With Us

If your company is interested in learning more about how bulk hygiene donations can create meaningful community impact—or exploring a partnership with Giving the Basics—we’d love to connect.

To learn more or start a bulk donation partnership, visit:

https://givingthebasics.org/product-donations/

Spring Showers Drive 2026 – 445,000 Reasons to Celebrate

KMBC 9 Spring Showers

Spring Showers 2026: 445,000 Reasons to Celebrate

What started as a community call to support local students became something truly extraordinary. Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of individuals, businesses, schools, faith communities, and partners across the region, Spring Showers 2026 collected an incredible 445,400 hygiene items for students experiencing hygiene insecurity.

From shampoo and soap to deodorant, toothpaste, and period products, every donated item represents more than just a basic necessity — it represents confidence, dignity, and the ability for students to show up ready to learn.

This year’s campaign once again proved what is possible when a community rallies together for a common purpose.

Friendly Competition, Incredible Impact

One of the most exciting parts of Spring Showers each year is the competition between participating organizations. Businesses and community groups across the metro challenged employees, customers, and supporters to give generously, creating energy and momentum throughout the campaign.

The division competitions inspired creativity, teamwork, and a shared sense of purpose as organizations worked to collect the most-needed hygiene products for local students. From office collection bins to customer donation drives and volunteer events, participants found countless ways to engage their communities.

Oasis Senior Advisors Spring Showers Drive

Division I Winner, Oasis Senior Advisors

1248 Holdings Spring Showers Drive

Division II Winner, 1248 Holdings

BPU Employee Foundation Spring Showers Drive

Division III Winner, BPU

Guest Worldwide In Kind Donation Winner

In Kind Donation Winner, Guest Worldwide

Congratulations to all of our division winners and every organization that participated. Your leadership helped make this our biggest Spring Showers campaign yet.

Community Awareness That Made a Difference

A campaign of this scale is only possible when the community understands the need — and this year, awareness reached new heights thanks to incredible media and promotional support.

KMBC 9 News played a major role in amplifying the message of hygiene insecurity and encouraging viewers to take action throughout the campaign. Their coverage helped shine a light on the reality that many students miss school or struggle to focus simply because they do not have access to basic hygiene products at home.

One of the campaign segments can be viewed here:

KMBC 9 Video

The campaign also received incredible support from Life 88.5, whose on-air promotion and encouragement motivated listeners to donate and get involved. Their passion for serving the community helped bring even more attention and support to Spring Showers this year.

Life 88 Kansas City

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Spring Showers 2026 would not have been possible without the support of our generous sponsors, whose partnership helped expand the campaign’s reach and impact.

T-Mobile Foundation Donation

A special thank you to:

Their commitment to supporting students and families helped fuel this year’s success and ensured more hygiene products could reach the people who need them most.

Looking Ahead to 2027

While we are celebrating this incredible milestone, the need continues year-round. Thousands of students in our community still lack access to the everyday hygiene products many of us take for granted.

That is why Spring Showers will return in 2027 — bigger, stronger, and ready to continue building dignity for local students and families.

To every person who donated a toothbrush, hosted a drive, shared a post, volunteered their time, sponsored the campaign, or helped spread the word: thank you. Your generosity created 445,000 moments of dignity and care for students across our community.

Together, we are proving that small acts of kindness can create a massive impact.

School Nurses Share the Power of Hygiene Access for Students

From Absences to Confidence

School Nurses Share the Power of Hygiene Access for Students

Every day across the region, school nurses quietly solve problems most people never see.

A student afraid classmates will think they have lice.

A child missing class because of an accident and no change of clothes.

A girl staying home during her period.

A family asking if shampoo can be sent home in a backpack.

These moments happen more often than people realize—and they reveal the hidden impact of hygiene poverty in schools.

That’s why access to hygiene for schools matters so deeply. Today, nearly 300,000 hygiene items are reaching students each month, helping school nurses and counselors support students not just academically—but personally, socially, and emotionally.

Here’s what they’re seeing firsthand.

Students Are Missing Fewer Classes

School Hygiene Access

One of the clearest changes school nurses report is improved attendance.

“Students feel more comfortable coming in asking for hygiene assistance. By having these products available for them, we have reduced the number of students leaving because of an ‘accident’ needing to go home to change—which used to result in missing classes.”

Research supports what nurses are seeing. Access to hygiene supplies and hand hygiene support in schools has been shown to reduce illness-related absences by as much as 51% in some school-based interventions.

And when students stay in school, they stay connected—to learning, friendships, and opportunity.

Students Are More Confident Asking for Help

School Hygiene Access

When hygiene products are consistently available, students stop feeling embarrassed about asking.

At Osawatomie USD 367, a nurse shared:

“A student was crying on arrival to school due to bad dandruff. They were out of shampoo at home and scared peers would think they had lice. We were able to help the student wash their hair in the sink and provide the supplies they were out of at home.”

Moments like this change how students experience school. Instead of anxiety, they feel relief. Instead of hiding, they participate.

Students Participate More Fully in School Activities

School Hygiene Access Sports

Access to hygiene items in schools doesn’t just affect attendance—it affects confidence.

School nurses report:

“There has been an increase in students’ participation in sports at recess due to them knowing they can get deodorant from the nurse’s office if they are worried about smelling after.”

They’re also seeing earlier and healthier hygiene habits develop:

“More 4th and 5th graders are using deodorant in general.”

And students are learning preventative care:

“Students were more proactive this winter about their dry skin. They were asking for lip balm and using it before their lips became so cracked and dry that they bleed.”

These small shifts create lasting habits that support both health and self-esteem.

Girls Are Missing Fewer Days During Their Periods

School Hygiene Access Girls

Across the country, nearly one in four teens who menstruate has struggled to afford period products.

That lack of access—known as period poverty—directly contributes to missed school days and lower engagement.

School nurses are seeing the difference access makes immediately.

At Burrton USD 369, staff shared:

“The girls are less likely to be gone during their cycle. They are more open about when they need things also.”

At Spring Hill Elementary USD 230:

“Girls have developed more confidence around coming into the nurse office for pads.”

When products are available without barriers, students stay in class—and feel supported while they’re there.

Families Are Receiving Support Beyond the Classroom

For many districts, hygiene kits for schools help support entire households—not just individual students.

From Jayhawk USD 346:

“We are able to wash students’ clothes that have been worn several days in a row and have a bad odor. I wash students’ clothes every day. Students have hygiene products they can take home and use.”

And families are increasingly reaching out directly for help.

At Burrton USD 369:

“At least a few times a month, families will reach out asking if I can put extra shampoo, soap, feminine hygiene products, toilet paper, or laundry soap in their child’s backpack for take home… it is SUCH a relief to have those items available.”

Access to these essentials reduces stress for caregivers and strengthens the relationship between families and schools.

Hygiene Products Help Prevent Escalating Concerns

Sometimes hygiene support prevents much larger problems.

A school social worker in Kearney explained:

“These hygiene items are key to prevention of hotline calls for concerns of neglect. When teachers express concern that a child is wearing dirty clothes or has poor hygiene, it has been a blessing to offer these products to remedy the concern and not have to get other agencies involved.”

Access to hygiene items at school allows educators to respond with support instead of escalation. That changes outcomes for students—and families.

Schools Are Supporting the Whole Child

At Osawatomie USD 367, staff described their approach this way:

“This program is such a help to our district which is in a low SES community. We provide these products to students and families without question on need. We believe in supporting our students beyond the bell to bell within the classroom. Our support extends beyond our school doors.”

That’s exactly what hygiene access makes possible.

When students feel clean, confident, and prepared, they are more likely to attend school regularly, participate fully, and focus on learning.

And when school nurses have the right tools, they can respond immediately—before small challenges become barriers to success.

Why Hygiene Items for Schools Matter More Than Ever

Hygiene poverty is often invisible—but its effects are not.

It shows up in missed class time.

In reduced confidence.

In families quietly asking for help.

And in students who just want to feel like they belong.

By delivering nearly 300,000 hygiene items to schools each month, communities are helping school nurses and counselors do what they do best: remove barriers so students can thrive.

Because sometimes the difference between missing school and succeeding in it is something as simple as shampoo, deodorant, or a clean shirt.

And sometimes dignity starts with hygiene.

Help Provide Hygiene to Schools

School Hygiene Product Drive

Right now, students across our region are walking into school worried about things they shouldn’t have to think about—whether they smell, whether they have shampoo at home, or whether they’ll have what they need during their period.

Access to hygiene items at school changes that.

Because of community support, nearly 300,000 hygiene items reach local students every month—but the need continues to grow as more school nurses and counselors request help for the students and families they serve.

You can be part of the solution.

Here are four ways to help:

Donate hygiene items

Collect shampoo, deodorant, soap, pads, and other essentials with your workplace, school, or community group.

Give online

Financial gifts help provide the most-requested products quickly and efficiently to school nurses supporting students right now.

Start a hygiene drive

Hosting a drive is one of the easiest ways to provide hygiene items for schools and make a direct local impact.

Get Your Company Involved

Giving the Basics offers several ways for companies to make an impact.

Because when students have what they need to feel clean and confident, they can focus on what matters most—learning.

KCTV5 News Student Volunteering Story

🎥 Watch the story from KCTV5 and see the impact volunteering makes.

A high school student who volunteered with us this weekend shared something simple but powerful:

“I get to help the community and others who aren’t as fortunate.”

Students understand what it means when someone their age has access to shampoo, deodorant, and other basics—and when they don’t. That’s why it’s so inspiring to see young people stepping up to support their peers.

More than 100 volunteers came together to pack hygiene essentials for local families—items government assistance programs don’t cover, but students need every day to feel confident at school.

Want to be part of it? Sign up to volunteer with us.

How to Start a Community Hygiene Drive at Your School

Community Hygiene Drive

A Step-by-Step Guide to Hosting a Successful Charity Drive

Starting a charity drive at your school is one of the most impactful ways to bring students, staff, and families together while meeting a real need in your community. With the right approach, your school can help provide hygiene items for schools, ensuring students have access to the basic products they need to feel confident and ready to learn.

And the best part? What starts as a simple drive can turn into something much bigger.

A Decade of Impact: What’s Possible

At St. James Academy, a hygiene charity drive that began nearly 10 years ago as a fun competition has grown into a powerful annual tradition. Each year, students rally together to collect essential items like soap, deodorant, and shampoo, products many families struggle to afford because they are not covered by assistance programs.

One St James student shared:

“It really hit me how important these basic items are,” she said. “I’ve always had them, so it was humbling to realize not everyone does. It made me super grateful for what I have.”

The impact is real and long lasting. By pitching in, students learn what it means to look beyond themselves and care for others. It’s a powerful lesson that builds empathy, generosity and humility — all things they want their students to carry with them for life.

“The drive challenges our students to develop an outward-focused perspective, to think outside their own struggles and pay attention to the basic needs of others,” said Dr. Wendy León-Ryan, director of culture and engagement at St. James.

That’s the power of engaging students in giving back—it’s not just about the products that get donated. It’s about the ability to provide dignity and confidence to others.

Why Start a Hygiene Charity Drive?

A school-based charity drive is one of the most meaningful ways students can support other students in their own community. When schools come together to collect essential items like shampoo, soap, deodorant, and toothpaste, they help ensure that classmates and peers across neighboring districts have the basics they need to feel confident and ready to learn each day.

Access to hygiene products affects far more than physical cleanliness. Without these essentials, students may hesitate to participate in class, avoid social situations, or withdraw from activities they once enjoyed. Confidence can drop quickly when a student feels self-conscious about something they cannot control, and unfortunately, hygiene insecurity can also increase the risk of teasing, bullying, and stigma.

A hygiene charity drive helps remove these barriers in a simple but powerful way. It allows students to show up prepared, focus on learning instead of worrying about their appearance, and feel included alongside their peers. Just as importantly, organizing a drive teaches participating students the value of empathy, teamwork, and service. It creates a shared opportunity to look beyond themselves and recognize how small actions, like donating a single item, can make a lasting difference in someone else’s day.

When schools lead efforts like this, they don’t just collect products, they build stronger communities and help ensure every student has the chance to walk into class with confidence.

Step-by-Step: How to Start a Charity Drive at Your School

  1. Partner with a Trusted Organization

    Work with a group like Giving the Basics to ensure donations are distributed effectively to local students and families. Sign up for a Giving the Basics Drive.

  2. Choose What to Collect

    Often, groups enjoy assembling hygiene kits for schools because it feels hands-on and personal. While the intention is wonderful, pre-packed kits aren’t always the most effective way to get the right products to the students who need them most. Needs vary from school to school. Some may urgently need deodorant, while others need laundry detergent or feminine hygiene products.

    Instead of hygiene kits, focus on high-need essentials like:

    • Shampoo
    • Deodorant
    • Soap
    • Toothpaste & toothbrushes
    • Laundry detergent
    • Feminine hygiene products
  3. Set a Clear, Motivating Goal

    Give your charity drive a target:

    • Collect 10,000 items
    • Support 200 students with hygiene kits

    Clear goals create excitement and help track success.

  4. Create a School-Wide Competition

    One of the biggest reasons St. James’ drive has been so successful? Friendly competition.

    Try:

    • Grade vs. grade challenges
    • Homeroom competitions
    • Clubs or teams competing

    Incentive Ideas:

    • Dress-down day
    • Extra recess or free period
    • Pizza party
    • School-wide recognition or trophy

    At St. James, students even earned points toward their school-wide “Thunder Cup,” making participation fun and meaningful.

    Competition drives engagement and turns your charity drive into something students want to be part of.

  5. Promote Your Drive Effectively

    Promotion is key to a successful charity drive.

    Use multiple channels:

    • Morning announcements
    • School newsletters
    • Social media posts
    • Posters and flyers in hallways
    • Emails to parents

    Messaging tips:

    Keep it simple and impact-focused:

    • Help provide hygiene items for schools in our community.
    • Every item helps a student feel confident at school.

    You can also share real stories, provided by Giving the Basics, to make the need more tangible.

  6. Make It Easy to Participate

    The easier it is to give, the more successful your drive will be.

    Offer:

    • Clearly labeled donation bins
    • A simple list of requested items
    • An online donation option
  7. Celebrate and Share the Impact

    At the end of your charity drive, celebrate what your school accomplished:

    • Total items collected
    • Total dollars raised
    • Winning grade or team

    At St. James, students collected 17,784 items, a powerful example of what’s possible when a community comes together.

    Celebrating success builds pride and often turns a one-time drive into a lasting tradition.

Start Your Hygiene Drive Today

Your school has the power to make a real difference.

By organizing a charity drive and helping provide hygiene items for schools, you’re not just collecting items, you’re restoring dignity and creating opportunity for students in your community.

Start small. Make it fun. Build momentum.

You never know, your drive could become the next decade-long tradition that changes lives.

Learn more and sign up here: https://givingthebasics.org/host-a-dignity-drive-kc/

How Hygiene Poverty Impacts Job Seekers

Hygiene Poverty Job Seekers

How a Hygiene Charity Helps Remove Barriers to Employment

For many job seekers, preparing for an interview means reviewing a resume, practicing answers, and choosing professional clothing. But for millions of Americans, there is another challenge that often goes unseen: access to basic hygiene products.

Soap. Shampoo. Deodorant. Laundry detergent.

These everyday essentials play a significant role in how people present themselves professionally. Yet for families experiencing financial hardship, these items can be difficult to afford. That is where a hygiene charity like Giving the Basics steps in – helping ensure that access to hygiene does not become a barrier to employment.

What Is a Hygiene Charity?

A hygiene charity is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring people have access to essential personal care products that support health, dignity, and daily living.

While food banks address hunger, hygiene charities address another critical but often overlooked need: hygiene poverty. Many essential items – such as soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, and feminine hygiene products – are not covered by government assistance programs like SNAP. That means families facing financial hardship must purchase these items out of already stretched household budgets.

Hygiene charities help bridge this gap by collecting and distributing essential products through community networks such as:

  • Schools
  • Food pantries
  • Shelters
  • Senior centers
  • Community service organizations

By partnering with these trusted local organizations, hygiene charities ensure products reach people where they already seek support. The goal is simple but powerful: to make sure no one has to go without the basics needed to feel clean, confident, and respected.

The Overlooked Barrier: Hygiene Poverty

Hygiene poverty affects millions of Americans every year. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 35.9 million Americans (10.6% of the population) lived in poverty in 2024. For households struggling to cover housing, food, and utilities, hygiene products often fall lower on the priority list.

Unlike groceries, many essential hygiene items – such as shampoo, deodorant, soap, and toothpaste – cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits. As a result, families must stretch already limited budgets to cover products that most workplaces consider basic expectations.

This gap is exactly why hygiene charities exist: to ensure that people do not have to choose between paying rent and maintaining personal hygiene.

Why Hygiene Matters in the Job Search

When someone is preparing for a job interview, confidence plays a critical role. Feeling clean and well-groomed allows candidates to focus on their skills and experience instead of worrying about their appearance.

Without access to hygiene products, job seekers may face challenges such as:

  • Wearing clothing that has not been washed due to lack of laundry detergent
  • Walking into interviews without deodorant after commuting
  • Feeling self-conscious about personal appearance or hygiene

These concerns can increase stress and anxiety during interviews, making it harder to perform well or communicate effectively.

For many people experiencing financial hardship, access to hygiene products provided through a hygiene charity can make the difference between walking into an interview with confidence – or not pursuing the opportunity at all.

Hygiene and Workplace Success

The need for hygiene products does not end once someone gets hired.

Maintaining employment often requires:

  • Clean uniforms or work clothing
  • Daily grooming and hygiene
  • Meeting workplace appearance standards

Without reliable access to hygiene essentials, individuals may struggle to keep up with these expectations. This means hygiene poverty can impact both job access and job retention.

By providing these essentials, hygiene charities help support long-term stability – not just short-term relief.

How a Hygiene Charity Helps Restore Opportunity

Hygiene charities play a critical role in supporting individuals who are working toward economic stability.

Access to basic hygiene products helps job seekers:

  • Feel confident during interviews
  • Meet workplace appearance standards
  • Maintain dignity and self-respect
  • Focus on building their careers instead of worrying about basic needs

These small but meaningful supports can create ripple effects that improve employment opportunities and overall well-being.

How Giving the Basics Is Addressing Hygiene Poverty

As a leading hygiene charity, Giving the Basics works to ensure that essential hygiene products reach individuals and families who need them most.

Through partnerships with schools, food pantries, shelters, and community organizations, Giving the Basics distributes millions of hygiene products each year, including:

  • Shampoo
  • Soap
  • Deodorant
  • Toothpaste
  • Laundry detergent
  • Feminine hygiene products

This hygiene hub model allows donations to move efficiently from community supporters to people who rely on these essentials every day.

For someone preparing for a job interview or starting a new job, these products can restore confidence and remove a barrier that might otherwise stand in their way.

More Than Hygiene – It Is About Dignity

A bottle of shampoo may seem small. A stick of deodorant may seem ordinary.

But for someone trying to secure employment, these products can represent something much bigger: dignity, confidence, and the ability to pursue opportunity.

Every time a hygiene charity provides these essentials, it helps ensure that individuals are not held back by something as basic as access to soap or laundry detergent.

Because when people have the basics, they can focus on building a better future.

Learn more about hygiene poverty and how you can help: givingthebasics.org

Corporate Social Responsibility in Action

Corporate Social responsibility February 2026

How Corporate Volunteering in February Helped Fight Hygiene Poverty

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is more than a statement on a website or a line in an annual report. At its best, it’s a lived commitment – one that strengthens communities while deepening purpose within organizations.

This February, we saw Corporate Social Responsibility in action.

  • 178 volunteers
  • 13 corporate groups
  • 152,802 hygiene items packaged

That’s 152,802 essentials that will go directly to local schools and community partners – ensuring students and families have access to the basics many of us take for granted.

But the impact goes beyond the numbers.

Why Corporate Involvement Matters in the Fight Against Hygiene Poverty

Hygiene poverty affects attendance, confidence, workforce readiness, and mental health. When students lack access to soap, deodorant, shampoo, or feminine hygiene products, it doesn’t just impact cleanliness – it impacts dignity.

Corporate volunteerism gives companies a tangible way to address this critical need while aligning with Corporate Social Responsibility goals focused on:

  • Community investment
  • Employee engagement
  • Health equity
  • Education support
  • Workplace dignity

And often, the impact starts closer to home than companies expect.

“When we first started volunteering for Giving the Basics, it opened our eyes to our own team members. Shortly after, we started offering the basics to our team and we were shocked how often there was a need to replenish. Giving team members pride and dignity was very meaningful.”

Transforming Workplace Culture

Corporate Social Responsibility doesn’t just change external communities. It can transform workplace culture.

Today’s workforce – particularly emerging professionals – increasingly chooses employers based on purpose and values alignment. Corporate volunteer programs that address tangible, local needs like hygiene poverty:

  • Increase employee morale
  • Strengthen cross-department relationships
  • Boost retention
  • Reinforce company mission
  • Build pride in the workplace

When employees see their company actively restoring dignity in the community, it fosters loyalty and shared purpose.

That’s not just good Corporate Social Responsibility. That’s good business.

The Real Stories Behind the Service

Volunteering often becomes personal. Many corporate team members in February shared that this issue resonates deeply with their own experiences.

From Harrah’s KC

“I can’t imagine the sadness of a child in school who is being made fun of and bullied simply because of their smell. I hope that the soap we have prepared will help at least one child to not feel that pain and rejection. For just that one child – that time and effort was worth it.”

“My daughter’s teacher has to remind the class about hygiene because tween kids can smell if not maintaining it. I can’t imagine how hard it would be as a kid hearing those reminders knowing there’s no way to remedy it.”

From Devoted Health

“I have known many people without the basics and it affects them deeply socially which ripples out into the rest of life. I remember a girl on my bus who never had the basics or anyone to sit with.”

“As a retired 8th grade teacher, I’ve purchased hygiene products my entire career for students. THANK YOU for doing this.”

From KU Health Systems

“I was once a kid whose family did not always have the basics. While the experience was tough, it impacted my career of being a social worker to help others experiencing the same. I remember being bullied, made fun of, being hungry and sometimes sick. Being able to volunteer today and help others gives me so much joy because we all are worthy and deserve being seen, respected, heard, loved and having the basics.”

“I have been one that was in need! I know what it’s like to feel like you have to choose toiletries or food/rent.”

These aren’t abstract issues. Hygiene poverty is personal – and corporate volunteers are often closer to the experience than they realize.

How Corporate Groups Can Get Involved

  1. Volunteer Packaging EventsBring your team onsite to package hygiene kits that go directly to local schools and partners. It’s high-energy, hands-on, and measurable. Sign Up Here.
  2. Participate in Spring ShowersOur annual Spring Showers Hygiene Drive invites companies to rally employees around a shared goal of providing essential items to local students. It’s a simple, engaging way to activate your Corporate Social Responsibility strategy during April – with built-in resources, team tracking, and measurable impact.Learn more about Spring Showers
  3. Host a Product DriveMobilize employees to collect essential items like deodorant, shampoo, soap, and feminine hygiene products. Learn More.
  4. Get Involved in an EventGiving the Basics offers multiple events throughout the year for your team to work together to support families and students in need. From golf tournaments to volunteer competitions, there are multiple ways to make a difference. Learn More.
  5. Offer Workplace Hygiene SupportAs some corporate partners discovered, hygiene insecurity can impact employees, too. Companies can integrate internal hygiene access as part of employee wellness initiatives.

The Ripple Effect of Corporate Volunteering

When corporate teams volunteer:

  • Students gain confidence.
  • Attendance improves.
  • Bullying decreases.
  • Families feel relief.
  • Employees feel purpose.
  • Workplace culture strengthens.

Corporate Social Responsibility becomes more than compliance or branding – it becomes transformation.

Thank You to Our February Corporate Groups!

February proved what’s possible when companies lean into Corporate Social Responsibility with intention.

178 volunteers.

13 corporate groups.

152,802 hygiene items.

And thousands of students who won’t have to go without thanks to these wonderful groups:

Join the Movement

If your organization is looking for a meaningful way to activate your CSR strategy, we’d love to partner with you.

Because everyone deserves the basics – at school, at work, and in life.

Get started at https://givingthebasics.org/.