Will you make sure Rob, Ellie and Sandra can feel clean this Christmas?
Christmas should be a season of warmth, family and joy. For Ellie (8), it should mean school plays, presents under the tree, and laughter at the dinner table.
But this year, her Christmas is clouded with loss. Ten months ago, her mum, Caroline, passed away. Since then, her dad, Rob has done everything to hold the family together. But grief, funeral costs and losing his job have left them struggling.
Rob has cut back on food and heating. He makes sure Ellie goes to school clean and fed, even if it means skipping his own meals, washing their clothes with washing-up liquid, or showering just once a week to save hot water.
He hides away from others because he doesn’t feel clean. And when you can’t afford soap, it’s not just your body that suffers — it’s your confidence, your dignity, and your chance to move forward.
Now, as Christmas approaches, Rob faces heartbreaking choices: milk or toothpaste? Heating or food? Presents or moisturiser for Ellie's very dry skin?
No parent should face choices like these. No child should miss out on the basics that keep them healthy, happy, and confident.
That’s where you can help.
With your gift this Christmas, The Hygiene Bank can provide the small essentials that change everything: shampoo, razors, laundry detergent and eczema cream. These aren’t luxuries — they are the basics that let Rob apply for a job with confidence, and help Ellie walk into school proud, not ashamed.
This Christmas, please give Rob and Ellie the gift of kindness
Like Rob, there are 5.3 million people in the UK that are having to choose between buying food and toiletries this winter. It isn’t about cleanliness, or even mental and physical wellbeing, hygiene poverty is blocking opportunities, abilities to socialise and impacts people's mental health - going without shower gel, shampoo or toothpaste causes people suffering every day.
People like Claire, Becky or Zahra will also go without food this Christmas, and will have to make huge sacrifices to make ends meet.
Will you give the gift of kindness this Christmas?
“It’s awful to have to choose between heating our home, feeding Sarah, my toddler, and buying period products for myself. ”
Claire
“No matter how hard I try, I can’t make ends meet – rent, bills, food and pretty much everything we need has gone up so much in the last couple of years. ”
Becky
“ My kids can’t invite their friends over like other kids do, because we all feel ashamed that we can’t keep our home smelling nice and looking clean.”
Zahra
*All names have been changed to protect people’s privacy
Where does my donation go?
The Hygiene Bank uses funds from campaigns like this one to:
- Buy products that people need that are not donated. This can include products that are not donated often and/or for people with people with specific needs – e.g. skin conditions, continence problems.
- Cover the costs of transport and storage to get donated products out to our local projects and store them safely until they are distributed to our Community Partners people who need them.
- Other necessary expenses involved in supporting and sustaining a national network of local projects, activities to attract more volunteers, train volunteers, and raising the funds needed to attract more donors, and more product donations, so local projects hubs continue to receive enough products for the people who need them.