Changing lives by providing hope and dignity through hygiene
Anne McIntyre says while there are services that provide food and shelter to those in need, hygiene products can often be more of an afterthought. Tune in as Anne joins host Lucky Budd on the Vital Victoria Podcast this month to share the story of her journey building Soap for Hope Canada – one of the country’s only nonprofits dedicated solely to personal hygiene.
Soap for Hope collects gently used and unused hygiene products, linens, and lost and found items from hotels, and redistributes them to the community. The organization now works with over 450 community facilities in B.C. and Alberta to make sure soap gets into the hands of people who need it most. Anne talks about what inspired her to start the organization and how it’s grown over the last 8 years, and how the non-profit is helping both people and the environment at the same time.
Vital Signs Issue Area
Sustainable communities promote inclusive and sustained economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. In Greater Victoria’s 2023 Vital Signs report, survey participants gave ‘Standard of Living’ a B- grade (see pages 30, 31). This issue is connected to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 1, 3, and 8: no poverty, good health and wellbeing, and decent work and economic growth.
Episode 19 Guest
Anne McIntyre – Born and raised in Victoria B.C., Anne is the Founder and Executive Director of Soap for Hope Canada – a non-profit that changes lives by providing hope and dignity through hygiene. Anne has also worked as the Executive Director for Disaster Aid Canada, and a program coordinator for artsREACH, based in Victoria. Remembering her grandfather’s wisdom of “2 birds, 1 stone,” Anne built Soap for Hope Canada in 2015 to help people and the environment at the same time. In 2022, Soap for Hope re-distributed over 2.3 million hygiene products from hotels, and diverted over 136-thousand pounds from the landfill.
Episode 19 Resources