Whether it’s a business trip or a family vacation, life on the road is a common occurrence. If you’re like many frequent flyers, you’ve probably accumulated a collection of unused travel-sized toiletries from your hotel stays. Those small bottles of shampoo and conditioner always survive the trip and can take up valuable storage space if left unused. Rather than letting these items go to waste, breathe new life into your collection and donate them to St. Vincent de Paul’s Resource Center.
Housed inside our new 40,000 square foot building on our Watkins campus in Downtown Phoenix, our Resource Center provides a safe haven for families and individuals in need of help.
Each day the program provides showers, clothing, shoes, counseling and referral services for 200 people in need. The staff primarily serves individuals who are experiencing homelessness, as well as families.
Toiletries are a small but essential component in our lives that are often taken for granted. Soap, shampoo and deodorant allow us to maintain our daily appearance.
“Without basic hygiene items our appearance deteriorates and over time it becomes easy to lose one’s self-respect, confidence and drive,” explains SVdP’s Resource Center Director Cherylyn Strong.
“For an individual who is already facing challenging circumstances or experiencing homelessness, losing their self-respect and confidence because of their physical appearance can make the problem worse,” Cherylyn continues.
Travel-sized items are ideal for those we serve. Small bottles are space-saving and easy to carry—making it possible for someone without regular shelter to stay clean while relying on public restroom.
Unfortunately for our Resource Center, the need for these items is so great that is it difficult to keep our supply shelves stocked with hygiene basics.
SVdP’s Resource Center always needs unopened donations of:
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Soap and Shower Gel
- Lotion
- Toothpaste and Toothbrushes
- Shaving Cream
- Deodorant
- Floss
- Feminine Hygiene Products
If your summer travel ends with extra toiletries from your hotel stay, consider donating these items and help others meet their basic needs.
