For low-income American families struggling to afford basic necessities, 39% of have reported that they have brushed their teeth without toothpaste in the previous 12 months.
One in three low-income American families struggles to afford basic non-food household goods including products related to personal care, household care and baby care and, as a result, make trade-offs with other living expenses and employ coping strategies to secure essential household goods.
When Utah Food Bank first started our Mobile School Pantry program, we met with teachers, principals, and school counselors. We asked them what is most needed by the children they serve. One answer came up again and again: laundry detergent and other personal care items.
Many of the families served by the Mobile School Pantry program are regularly forced to make decisions between competing basic needs, like buying food or medicine. This often leaves personal care items completely out of reach.
School staff see firsthand how the lack of laundry detergent, shampoo, or other hygiene items negatively impacts socialization and leaves young people vulnerable to bullying.
Help us meet all the basic needs of Utahns facing hunger by donating funds that will allow us to purchase and procure personal hygeine items.
* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.