Henry Schein Dental and Henry Schein Medical UK have teamed up with The Hygiene Bank, a nationwide organisation that provides people in need with hygiene products across the UK, to help tackle hygiene poverty. Hygiene necessities were donated, sorted, packed, and delivered to three local organisations by Henry Schein UK.
More than one in five people in the UK live in poverty – 14.5 million people according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Access to basic hygiene items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, and soap, is limited for many of these individuals. Therefore, Team Schein Members (TSMs) at Henry Schein UK came together to donate 723.34kg of personal and household products for people who need them most.
Members of Henry Schein UK’s Corporate Social Responsibility Committee at its Gillingham Head office stockpiled the products, creating packages tailored for different members of the community. Once sorted and packed, committee members along with Emma Thomas, project coordinator at The Hygiene Bank Medway, delivered the range of items (toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, soap, laundry detergent, and more) to The Nigerian Community Association (Kent and Medway), Warren Wood Primary Academy (Rochester), and a voluntary organisation in Medway. The hygiene items are set to be given to refugees, domestic abuse victims, and local underserved families who need immediate support.
“The Hygiene Bank Medway is based on community involvement and collaboration. Working with the Henry Schein UK team highlights just how amazing things can happen when we all pull together,” said Emma. “Hygiene poverty is often described as a hidden crisis in today’s society, but by working locally in partnership with Henry Schein UK, we hope to strengthen community cohesion by raising awareness that although hygiene poverty is close to home, it is also a problem that we can tackle together. Thanks again to the Henry Schein UK team for their support, and we sincerely hope it is just the start of our amazing partnership.”
This initiative aligns with Henry Schein Cares, Henry Schein’s corporate social responsibility programme. Henry Schein Cares stands on five pillars: empowering Team Schein to reach its potential, advancing health equity and expanding access to care for underserved communities, accelerating environmental sustainability, strengthening, and diversifying our supply chain, and maintaining strong ethical governance. Healthcare activities supported by Henry Schein Cares focus on four main areas:
- Wellness, treatment, prevention, and education
- Capacity building
- Emergency preparedness and disaster response
- Health system strengthening.
“Henry Schein UK is pleased to join forces with The Hygiene Bank to help make a difference in the lives of individuals in our local community,” said Vikki Goodall, senior director and general manager, of Henry Schein Dental UK. “The reality is that millions of people across the UK are lacking access to basic human necessities – something that many of us take for granted. Team Schein is grateful to the Hygiene Bank for giving us the opportunity to provide much-needed items to very deserving people and families, and we look forward to continuing our partnership.”
Other Henry Schein offices also collected hygiene products and donated to their local banks, including locations in Cardiff, Derby, Ireland, and Ilkley.