For the month of February, Boots, in partnership with Hygiene Hub, will match donations made in participating stores to help those living in poverty across Ireland*. Hygiene poverty is being unable to afford everyday items that many people take for granted. Hygiene Hub provides essential personal care items to those in need.
Recent research** from Hygiene Hub has shown that people with a disability, those working part-time, students and those having responsibility for children were most likely to experience hygiene poverty. Of those surveyed, 65% of people had experienced difficulties affording hygiene items in the previous year.
In the financial year 2023, through donations made by customers, via in store drop off points, and through direct donations by Boots, 1,100KG of items were donated to the Hygiene Hub.
Boots has added drop off points to five additional stores around the country, taking the total number of stores accepting donations to fifteen. Drop off points are now located in six locations in Dublin:
- Dundrum
- Carrickmines
- Swords
- Malahide
- Liffey Valley
- Blanchardstown
Across Ireland, there are drop off points in Letterkenny, Wicklow Town, Bray and Clonmel. There are also three locations in Cork – Douglas, Blackpool, and Half Moon Street as well two locations in Galway – Shop Street and Wellpark.
If customers would like to donate items, they can easily purchase them in store or take any new, unused, personal care and household cleaning essentials – including dental products, deodorant, shower gel, shampoo, nappies, toilet roll, razors, period products and hairbrushes to the donation drop off points in participating Boots stores. Products are then distributed by Hygiene Hub’s Community Volunteers to Community Partners – a mix of organisations, charities, and schools.
Commenting on the partnership, Martha Ryan, Head of Human Resources and ESG Lead for Boots said, “We very much value our partnership with Hygiene Hub which has been in place since 2022. Matching donations that customers make in store throughout February is a further step in our continued commitment towards the partnership. We hope our customers take advantage of the great value offering available in Boots stores including the Boots Everyday Range to pick up additional items to donate to this very deserving charity.”
Ciára Dalton, Head of Partnerships at Hygiene Hub said, “We would like to extend our thanks to the team at Boots for the invaluable support. Hygiene Hub is committed to ending hygiene poverty in Ireland and the additional drop off points being added by Boots will make it easier for people to drop off donations. If you use an item, chances are someone else needs it too. Any unused in date personal care and hygiene items will be accepted.”
For more information, please visit https://www.boots.ie//about-company-information
