Making Everyday Essentials Easier to Access
The Hygiene Hub helps residents in Broome County access vital hygiene products needed to stay healthy and confident. Demand is high, with 87% of local nonprofit partners reporting a strong need for items like soap, shampoo, and laundry supplies. Many organizations are spending thousands of dollars each month just to keep up.
That’s where the Hygiene Hub steps in. By buying products in bulk and distributing them through partner agencies each month, we stretch resources further and help more people get what they need. This lightens the load on local pantries, allowing them to focus on supporting their communities in other ways.
Why hygiene products Matter
Access to hygiene essentials isn’t just about cleanliness; it’s about health, confidence, and dignity.
When people don’t have what they need, it can affect both physical and mental health, as well as attendance at school and work.
Programs like SNAP and WIC don’t cover these everyday items.
Families are often forced to make difficult tradeoffs, including cutting back on food, to afford basics like soap or detergent.
Many households report skipping daily tasks like doing laundry or washing dishes to extend their supplies. However, there is significant potential for impact: most say they would seek help from a local organization if support were available. This highlights both the urgency of the need and the positive difference we can make when we respond collectively.
How it Works
BULK PURCHASING | SHARED RESOURCES | LESS STRAIN ON INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATIONS
Instead of each nonprofit sourcing these products independently, the Hygiene Hub unites partners. We coordinate purchasing and distribution across the region to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and ensure supplies are shared more equitably. This collaborative approach lets nonprofits spend less time on inventory management and more time serving the people they help.
Growing our Impact
Today, the Hygiene Hub supports seven partner pantries and helps over 3,000 individuals and families each year access essential hygiene supplies. We are now working to expand into rural communities, where transportation issues and limited services can make access even harder.
Meet Some of our Current Partners
- Boys & Girls Club of Binghamton
- RISE-NY
- Lee Barta Community Center
- First Presbyterian Church of Johnson City This Day Program
- St James Parish Church
- Harpursville Central School District
- Our Lady of Sorrows Church
Thank you to our donors and partner organizations who have graciously supported the establishment and growth of the Hygiene Hub!
To learn more, please contact grants@uwbroome.org