To ask you to consider donating your unopened unwanted toiletries?

[QueenOfIce]

I was shocked to read that 37% of people in the UK are below the poverty line, many having to choose between essential food items over hygiene. That 1 in 10 girls are missing school due to being unable to afford sanitary protection.

More information here www.the-pool.com/beauty/beauty-honestly/2018/7/Sali-Hughes-and-Jo-Jones-launch-Beauty-Banks#

When I give to my local food bank in future I shall also add toiletries to the list.

Yanbu
I’ll definitely add these to my next food bank shop xxx

Yanbu - but please make sure they are unused, I've sorted through donations before and going through the old, used stuff can be grim (especially if they are many years old!)

I sent a huge box last week. It was win win! Someone gets things they really need whilst they’re struggling. I passed on things that I just wouldn’t have used, cleared space in my cupboards and I know it won’t end up in landfill.
I would advise weighing the box though. My postage costs were high! Didn’t begrudge it at all but could be a shock to others

I have been donating sanpro products, toothpaste, deodorants, soap, flannels and basic moisturising creams like Aveeno every time I do a shop

I used the Amazon wishlist option for this, which made it very easy to donate / not have to worry about packing and posting. A really great idea all round.

Can you just donate to your local food bank. I donated a few smellies after Christmas along with some food at the supermarket collection. But afterwords I wondered if they would have kept as it wasn’t on the list of things to donate.

What a great idea about amazon - I'll definitely be doing this

Bodicea, I don't believe your local food bank would turn away your donation. Perhaps call them first?

I have a question, I hope it's not too morbid my lovely mum passed away recently. We have lots of toiletries of hers that are unopened is it acceptable to donate them or is that just weird?!

A dead persons donation is as good as a livings.

Sanity products for teens should available for free for young girls like condoms are.,it's a lot easier to abstain from sex than bleeding.

The local charity that I donate to needs toothbrushes, toothpaste and toilet rolls.

Their website tells you what they need and also what they have too much of.

People who donate food that needs cooking in an oven haven’t a clue about poverty. How can you heat an oven if you don’t have money for food? It’s such a waste of charity resources when they get all these jars of processed sauces etc.

I agree Clary there is a campaign for this happening, though at the moment it's only for those who qualify for free school meals. Sanitary products should be free full stop, menstruation is not a luxury.

I wish that supermarkets would have a 'food bank board' so as you walk in it tells you what your local food bank needs at that time and also reminds those who might not think about donating to perhaps put one extra thing in their basket.

I've never understood why you can get free condoms but not free sanitary protection.

I usually stick a big box of unopened body lotions, shower gels etc on freecycle every year or so; it's absolutely daft to throw them out. And you do get a lot of that sort of stuff at Christmas time!

My local food bank often has toiletries in its 'wanted' list.

Sanpro has been on the 'thank you, we currently have good stocks' list for a couple of months now.

You really do need to check with your local food bank what they need most at any particular time (it does vary, over time and between places)

That's if you're donating to your local food bank Auntie. The Beauty Banks are distributing to where it's most needed including homeless shelters. But it's a good reminder to check with our local food banks if we are planning on donating there. Thank you

Amazing idea. Donated via the Amazon wish list (dead easy).

'Beauty Banks' are just a way of donating a particular type of product (just one of many types needed).

If you want to donate online, then cash to your local food bank or charity which runs shelters - which will be used to get the things they most need - is the best bet.

Because as I pointed out, in some areas, the greatest need might be for things other than toiletries. Just cash, with no restriction on how it is used, is by far the most useful donation any food bank or shelter can have.

OP agree a list near the supermarket entrance would be s great idea and would remind shoppers to pick something up in the first place

Is it worth asking the supermarkets to put a board up I wonder?

Amazon. High prices, poor conditions for workers, excessive packaging, tax avoidance.

Buy from a cheap high street shop and post 2kg for £3. Doing it properly doesn't cost much more and the snow will be gone next week.

"Today 07:39 QueenOfIce

I wish that supermarkets would have a 'food bank board' so as you walk in it tells you what your local food bank needs at that time and also reminds those who might not think about donating to perhaps put one extra thing in their basket"

This is such a seriously good point and one I often think about. Not all shops have them so I don't think to buy items, then on my way out I see the food bank box and think I was they'd had a bloody sign up on the way in as I'd then buy plenty knowing I could donate on the way out!

I've never actually donated due to that, whereas if there was a sign at the opening of the shop I'd donate every week.

Special a lot of people have said the same, you can go through boots and Superdrug also it says. I believe they are working on reduced postage for those donating.

Who do I ask about a food bank board, anyone know? Shall I tweet??

Thanks Queen for the reminder - have just asked my local food bank and they'd really like toiletries and other household goods. I'm terrible at picking up samples/little bottles from hotels so will take some of those and some unused Christmas gifts too. They also said that people are really struggling because of the weather too and using money for heating not food.

That's lovely of you Think, I too am a hotel toiletries distributor especially when it's Molton Brown! I have plenty to donate, I am about to contact my local food bank and see if they would like them.