Close to 1.5 Million Toiletries Donated Since 2008
BELLEVUE, Wash. — The simple act of donating a bar of soap can make a huge impact on another person’s life. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, almost 10% of Washington state residents, and more than 11% in Idaho, lived below the poverty line. Soap for Hope, AAA Washington’s toiletry donation drive, aims to help our neighbors in need through 21 local charities around the state:
- Alderwood AAA Cruise & Travel store benefitting Lynnwood Food Bank and Whidbey Island Nourishes
- Bellevue AAA Cruise & Travel store benefiting Hopelink, Mercer Island Food Pantry and REST
- Bellevue corporate office benefitting Acres of Diamonds, Sound
- AAA Bremerton store benefitting the YWCA Kitsap County, ALIVE Shelter.
- AAA Coeur d’Alene store benefitting Union Gospel Mission: Women and Children’s Center
- Issaquah AAA Cruise & Travel store benefitting Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank
- Mount Vernon AAA Cruise & Travel store benefitting Stanwood Camano Food Bank
- AAA North Spokane store benefitting Transitions Domestic Violence Services
- AAA Olympia store benefitting First Baptist Meal Ministry and Tumwater School District
- Seattle AAA Cruise & Travel store benefitting Queen Anne Food Bank
- Southcenter AAA Cruise & Travel store benefitting Mary’s Place Burien
- Spokane AAA Cruise & Travel store benefitting Hope House
- Tacoma AAA Cruise & Travel store benefitting The Salvation Army, Tacoma
- Vancouver AAA Cruise & Travel store benefitting Share, Vancouver
- AAA Wenatchee store benefitting Serve, Wenatchee Valley
- AAA Yakima store benefitting Jesse’s Place at Camp Hope
During Soap for Hope, all AAA Washington locations will gladly accept contributions of soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, shaving products, menstrual supplies and personal-protective equipment (PPE) such as facemasks and hand sanitizer. All products must be unopened and unused. The Soap for Hope toiletry donation drive runs from Nov. 1 through Dec. 30, but donations are accepted all year.
“Some of our neighbors are really struggling right now. AAA’s Soap for Hope drive stocks supplies of important items at local charities so that people don’t have to choose between hygiene and putting food on the table,” said Jennifer Cook, AAA Washington’s senior manager of corporate communications. “Having access to these items can boost confidence for a job interview or for children going to school. Your toiletry donations make a huge impact to a family in need.”
Hygiene poverty isn’t as visible as hunger, but it’s very real. Some are unable to afford basic hygiene products that most of us take for granted.
For Danielle in Olympia, the essential items made a special day even more memorable, “It’s hard enough fitting in when you live out of a car. But going to the Homecoming dance seemed impossible. I couldn’t believe it when my high school said I could use products from AAA Soap for Hope to get ready for the dance. For the first time in a long time, my life felt normal.”
Since 2008, close to 1,500,000 items have been distributed to local charities throughout Washington and North Idaho. Every contribution, whether travel-, regular- or economy-size, can make a huge impact. You can drop off donations at any AAA Washington location.
For more information, visit www.aaa.com/SoapForHope.