An initiative hopes to spur some good in the community alongside a summer pastime in Victoria.
Soap for Hope Canada has partnered with the Victoria HarbourCats on a program that looks to provide more than 2,000 kids and teens in Victoria with essential hygiene and oral-care products.
Throughout the baseball season, the charity will be collecting gently used and new hygiene products at HarbourCats home games, while also raising funds through an 50/50 raffle.
A donation bin will be present at Royal Athletic Park and fans are encouraged to donate gently used shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion, along with new items like deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrushes.
Soap for Hope Canada provides essential hygiene products to various in-need groups and has distributed almost 10 million items since 2015. That effort has also saved one million pounds from ending up in the landfill by finding a home for products that otherwise would’ve been thrown away.
The charity says hygiene is critical for staying healthy and maintaining self-confidence, but many kids and teens in Victoria lack access to basic items. That could lead to missed school days, health issues and impact the overall well-being of youth, the Victoria-based organization said.
“Supporting the health and self-esteem of kids in our community is a cause we are deeply passionate about,” C. Anne McIntyre, Soap for Hope Canada’s founder and executive director, said in a news release. “We are excited to partner with the HarbourCats and engage the community in this meaningful initiative.”
The Cats’ will host their home opener on June 7 at Royal Athletic Park.
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