• Program/Project Description: Since COVID we have seen a dramatic increase in community need. At the same time, our Caring Community Partners (Hotels) has experienced a decline in occupancy rate. Therefore, the products we receive to reprocess has dwindled to near nothing. As an interim solution, we have had to purchase most of the essential hygiene amenities we need to support our vulnerable community. We have become a reliable and consistent source of essential hygiene amenities to over 65 Community Facilities in Calgary and surrounding area. We are requesting funding to continue to purchase hygiene amenities until our hotel industry increases in occupancy and we can get back to reprocessing amenities. We believe No One Should Have to Hope for Soap. It is our mission to make sure everyone gets what they need.
• Goals of the Project/Expected Outcomes: Our goal is to continue to respond to the growing needs in the community for essential hygiene products. Although we have had to pivot and change the core of how we received hygiene items, we know that we are essential to the hygiene health of vulnerable community members. It has become a mantra to wash our hands, use soap, and keep clean. Did you know that washing with soap is like a self-induced vaccine against transmittable diseases? In 2020 our organization distributed over 1.3 Million items to those in need. We anticipate that 2021 will surpass this number.
Ongoing benefit to the community: Soap for Hope Canada has been providing essential hygiene amenities to Calgary and surrounding area for over 5 years. Our program originated as a program of Disaster Aid Canada. Last year, we became our own charity with our own CRA #. We started with a handful or Community Facilities in 2015 and have grown organically to provide over 65 Facilities with regular products in 5 years. know we have the potential to service other Community Facilities and are working to Our volunteer opportunities are another benefit to our community. We rely on dedicated and committed people to help us accomplish the mission of our program. In 2020, we had over 15,000 hours of volunteer time. This provided a sense of purpose for many people during a difficult year. Many of our volunteers take products home to process .