Hygiene poverty can affect anyone.

The reality of surviving on a low income is that it restricts people’s options, often leaving people caught between being able to heat homes, pay rent, eat or be clean.

Now, as part of National Hygiene Week, which runs until September 18th, Boots Ireland has announced a new partnership with The Hygiene Bank Ireland, providing drop-off points in ten stores where people can donate hygiene products for those in need.

The stores in the initial phase include two locations in Cork – Blackpool and Half Moon Street.

Customers are invited to donate a range of unopened and unused products such as dental products, deodorants, body wash, nappies, baby wipes, razors and shaving foam, period products, hairbrushes, shampoo, and conditioner.

“Everyone has the right to an adequate standard of living, yet with 640,000 people at risk of poverty and the cost of living on the rise, hygiene products can often be at the bottom of the shopping list for people who are struggling to make ends meet,” said Ciára Dalton, Head of Marketing, The Hygiene Bank Ireland.

“The impact of this can be immense. A child might be bullied for going to school with matted hair because the family doesn’t have a hairbrush, or a woman might not leave the house for several days each month as she doesn’t have period products,” she added.

We’ll be making the most of those two-for-one offers to help out.