How We Distribute Essential Hygiene Products
Hope & Comfort is the only organization in Boston solely dedicated to addressing youth hygiene insecurity. The many requests for hygiene products we receive tell the story of thousands of youth without access to the essentials. Often, these young people are embarrassed to go to school and isolate themselves. Supplying items like soap and deodorant can help improve the health and self-esteem of a young person, giving them the confidence to succeed.
Hope & Comfort works with more than 75 youth-serving and community organizations – including college campuses – to provide hygiene products such as soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, and toothbrushes. Our partnering organizations listed below help distribute essential hygiene products to at-hope youth, a term we use for children and young adults who have the ability to succeed when given the proper tools and knowledge.
Are you a youth-serving organization interested in receiving products from Hope & Comfort? Click here to request items.
Schools
Bates School
Beacon Academy
Berklee College of Music
Blackstone Innovation School
Boston Adult Technical Academy (BPS)
Boston Community Leadership Academy (BPS)
BPS Homeless Education Resource Network
BPS Nurses Training
Bridgewater State University
Bruce School
BTU K-8 Pilot School
Bunker Hill Community College
Burke High School (BPS)
Charlestown High School
Conley Elementary School (BPS)
Dante Alighieri
Edison School K-8 (BPS)
English High
Gardner Pilot Academy
Grew Elementary
Guild Elementary
Haley Pilot School
Hendersen Inclusion
Hennigan
Higgins School
Horace Mann School for the Deaf
James F. Condon School
JG Whittier Middle School
King School Boston (BPS)
Kennedy Middle School
Lawrence High School
Lee School
Lilla Frederick School (BPS)
Manning School
Mario Umana Academy
Mary Lyon K-8
Mattahunt School
McKay School (BPS)
Michael Perkins School (BPS)
Mildred Ave School
Mozart School
Nathan Hale School (BPS)
Ohrenberger School (BPS)
Orchard Gardens
Patrick J. Kennedy School (BPS)
Paul Dever Elementary
Philbrick Elementary School (BPS)
Sarah Greenwood
St. James School
Suffolk University
Trotter School
Revere Public Schools
Richard J. Murphy K-8 School
Roosevelt K-8
Russell School (BPS)
Winship Elementary
Youth-Serving Organizations
Belle of the Ball
Birthday Wishes
Boys & Girls Club of Boston
Bridgewater State University
Catie’s Closet
Charleston Coalition
City Year
Cradles to Crayons
Freshman Fresh Start
Healthy Chelsea
Hyde Square Task Force
Rise Above Foundation
ShortStop (Wayside Youth)
South End Community Health Center
The Theater Offensive
The Wily Network
Waltham Boys & Girls Club
Wonderfund
YMCA of Greater Boston
YouthBuild North Shore
YW Boston
Y2Y Youth Shelter
Families
A Place to Turn
Acton Community Supper
Centre Street Food Pantry
Dedham Food Pantry
Interfaith Services Food Pantry
Jewish Family & Children’s Services
JFS MetroWest
Lexington Interfaith Food Pantry
Natick Service Council
Needham Community Council
Newton Food Pantry
St. Joseph’s
St. Mary’s
St. Patrick’s
Sudbury Food Pantry
Wellesley Food Pantry
Community
Boston Dream Center
Catholic Charities
City Mission Boston
Friends of Boston’s Homeless
Lowell Community Health Center
On The Rise
Outreach Van at Boston University
Pine Street Inn
St. Francis House
Women’s Lunch Place
HYGIENE DISTRIBUTION PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: CATIE’S CLOSET
In recent years, Hope & Comfort is proud to have strengthened and expanded our partnership with Catie’s Closet. Catie’s Closet is a nonprofit organization that transforms unused spaces in schools with poverty rates of 50%+ into free, in-school “stores”, or closets. Closets offer Pre-K through 12th grade students access to a range of basic necessities – such as quality clothing and winter coats. By locating closets directly in schools, students can access the items they need to thrive with immediacy, in a discrete manner, without any red tape, and in a space that is familiar to them. Closets exist in over 50 schools across Eastern Massachusetts, including 21 in Boston Public Schools.
Since 2016, Hope and Comfort has provided over 40,000 products to Catie’s Closet to ensure that youth accessing the closets also receive essential hygiene products – such as soap, shampoo, deodorant, and more. By “shopping” for their own essential hygiene products, students pack their own hygiene kits and can stock up on the items they need most. This exciting partnership reaches some of our state’s neediest youth, ensuring that they have what they need to make it through the school day, year, and beyond. In partnership with Catie’s Closet, Hope and Comfort meets students where they’re at…with dignity.
