striking out hygiene poverty: recurrent + Hope & Comfort

Thousands of youth and young adults across the country face the challenge of hygiene insecurity every single day. Recurrent’s amazing non-profit partner Hope and Comfort is dedicated to striking out hygiene insecurity. We are honored to be working with them to move the mission forward. When you buy recurrent, we give recurrent to young adults who need it.

• Hygiene poverty is technically called “hygiene insecurity.” It’s the inability to regularly access and/or afford basic hygiene products for everyday use, such as soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, and toothbrushes.
• Hygiene items bring health, confidence, and dignity to those in need. Good personal hygiene supports physical and social-emotional wellness, promotes positive self-esteem, and prevents illness. Poor hygiene can impair the development of confidence and social skills, leading to absenteeism, lack of engagement in school and social activities, and peer bullying.
• There are an estimated 150,000 youth under 18 years old in Massachusetts alone who are experiencing hygiene insecurity. Nationally, the issue is exponentially larger.
• SNAP benefits (formerly known as ‘food stamps’) do not cover any basic hygiene products. In fact, there is no widespread local, state, or federal ‘safety net’ program that provides essential hygiene products to youth in need.
• In a 2013 study, 58% of low-income individuals reported cutting back on food to afford hygiene products.
• In a 2013 study, 40% of low-income individuals reported skipping or delaying rent payments to obtain hygiene products.

Learn more at www.hopeandcomfort.org. Striking out hygiene insecurity is possible!