
What the Community is Saying About Hope & Comfort
Over the years, Hope & Comfort has received letters from organizations and nonprofits that have benefited from our donations. Read through a collection of our favorite letters.
I know my son gets bullied because of his hygiene and if I could afford to buy all of these products on a weekly basis, or if there was someone that would help me with them, then I am sure he wouldn’t be bullied at all.”
– From a mother requesting products for her son.
It’s an awesome moment when a new client comes to Centre Street and finds the toiletry shelf fully stocked. They are getting more than food. Their eyes light up when they learn they can go home with shampoo and bar soap. It’s huge.”
– Christina, food pantry volunteer
The students we serve live in extreme poverty and often qualify as homeless. Often, students living in poverty do not have access to hygiene items and come to school unclean. Many students have to share items such as a toothbrush with their siblings because they cannot afford more than one.”
– Request from After School Outreach Program
“A very important part of the high school special education curriculum is “Transition Skills” – those skills which will prepare them for life beyond high school. Providing them with the knowledge and TOOLS for good personal hygiene is an essential part of their vocational training which will lead to post-secondary employment.”
– From an educator whose students received hygiene kits
Moving here from NYC, I’ve been unable to get a job. So I cannot afford toiletries. I want to make myself presentable for job interviews. So the razor blades, shampoos and soaps are extremely helpful to me.”
– John, food pantry shopper
Hope & Comfort has also been a great help financially. Our pantries are all funded by donations only and not having to buy the products Hope & Comfort provides to us allows us to spend more on other necessities.”
– From a partner food pantry
Milestones
Hover over the dots below to view Hope & Comfort's highlights over the years.
May
The Feingolds accept donations in lieu of presents for their daughter’s birthday party. Through this donation, they meet a social worker who confirms that there is a huge unmet need for hygiene products. Hope & Comfort is born!
September
Hope & Comfort makes its first distribution of 250 tubes of toothpaste to Jewish Family and Children’s Service’s Family Table.
January
Hope & Comfort hits 1,000 items distributed.
June
Hope & Comfort is granted 501(c)3 status.
November
Hope & Comfort hits 15,000 items distributed.
January
Hope & Comfort hits 30,000 items distributed.
August
Hope & Comfort hires its first full-time employee.
November
Hope & Comfort partners with Boys & Girls Club of Boston and nursing students from Mass General Hospital.
November
Hope & Comfort hits 50,000 items distributed.
December
Hope & Comfort moves into its first “official” storage space in Newton, MA.
February
Hope & Comfort launches its first program to supply local food pantries with hygiene products.
April
Hope & Comfort launches a program with Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston to provide hygiene products and education to youth in Boston.
October
Hope & Comfort hits 100,000 items distributed.
November
Hope & Comfort celebrates the grand opening of its first office and warehouse space.
April
Hope & Comfort hits 150,000 items distributed.
August
Hope & Comfort hits 200,000 items distributed.
November
Hope & Comfort hits 250,000 items distributed.
March
Hope & Comfort hits 300,000 items distributed.
September
Hired the organization’s first Executive Director.
November
Hope & Comfort hits 400,000 items distributed.
May
Hope & Comfort hits 500,000 items distributed.
September
Moved to new office and warehouse space in Needham which offers almost double the square footage of our previous warehouse.
September
Hope & Comfort hits 600,000 items distributed.
December
Hope & Comfort hits 700,000 items distributed.
March
Hope & Comfort hits 800,000 items distributed.
December
Hope & Comfort hits 1,000,000 items distributed since our founding.
September
Hope & Comfort has it's single largest distribution, distributing 500,000 bars of soap in response to COVID-19.
December
Hope & Comfort hits 2,700,000 products distributed since our founding.
June
Hope & Comfort celebrates the 10th anniversary of our founding.
December
Hope & Comfort distributes over 1,900,000 hygiene products in 2021.