Soap For Hope Canada
426 William St V9A3Y9 Victoria, BC, Canada

Today was an incredible day. (busy and productive) We have started back with our regular hotel pick up schedule with a volunteer from the Rotary Club of Saanich. He went to some of the hotels on our Caring Community Partner program to pick up hygiene and linens to be reprocessed. We had volunteers from the Victoria Chinatown Lioness Lions Club busy folding linens and putting orders together.... We had our amazing volunteer from the Rotary Club of Victoria-Harbourside come to pick up more products to make Hygiene Kits for seniors in Victoria. We had our favorite trucking company Diamond Delivery and First Canadian Messenger drop off products from Fairmont Vancouver Airport (thank you for being a Caring Community Partner) AND pick up multiple orders of products going back into our communities to help those that need essential products. We are happy to say that today we were able to ship products to Washington Kids Foundation, Stz'uminus First Nation, Williams Lake First Nation and a representative from Esquimalt Nation came for a tour and pick up products. We thank Ricks Heart Foundation BC for allowing all our shipping to be done with Diamond Delivery and First Canadian Messenger. A busy day but many will be clean because of it. Thank you to everyone who makes this work possible. It takes a village...#dowhatyoucan #supportlocal#rockstarvolunteers #kidshelpingkids #Rotary #Lions #soapsaveslives #ricksheartfoundation

Community highlight! KUU-US Crisis Line Society <3 We are so honoured to work with this incredible organization to provide hygiene products to people in need. Have you heard of them? KUU-US is so much more than a crisis phone line, although that is mighty impressive alone. Not only do they provide phone-in mental health crisis support to Indigenous people all over the province, but they're also working on getting affordable housing, providing food hampers, doing outreach to ...community members, and distributing supplies. They serve not one, not two but more than 6 Indigenous communities from Port Alberni to the Tofino and beyond. In December they helped 1,500 people! With Port Alberni being a hit hard by the pandemic, its times like now that make us ever so grateful for incredible caring community partners like KUU-US! Learn more here: https://www.kuu-uscrisisline.com/ Here are some of the amazing humans behind the organization:

A little hope can go a long way. Our Lead Volunteer and Advisee Board Member, Kathy, has dedicated her time to making special hygiene kits for seniors across the city. Little rubber duckies were added to a recent batch of the kits and one of the Community Facilities that distributed them shared this story. I just spoke to one of my seniors who received meals today along with a [hygiene kit] that had a yellow duck in it.this could not have come at a better time, as she was h...aving a bit of a low day.she said how much the duck was appreciated, as a young girl growing up on a farm she loved the ducklings, holding and caring for them, the duck today gave her some comfort and fond memories were recalled. We are so thankful to Kathy for her dedication to seniors throughout Victoria, and the sweet impact soap and little rubber duckie can have.

A big shout out to 2 superstars! Thank you Neeve and Bree from Bays United Football Club who worked for hours deflating soccer balls. These will be sent to Belarus with (Compassionate Resource Warehouse) for a kids program and also to Vancouver for a soccer program. We applaud youth who get involved and do what they can to make a difference in their community! #rockstarvolunteers #dowhatyoucan #supportlocal #kidshelpingkids

Thank you to the Vernon & District Metis Association for your generous donation. We are glad we were able to help to provide essential hygiene products to ensure that the elderly and vulnerable/at risk people in your community are taken care of. We are here to support you during the pandemic and beyond! #dowhatyoucan #soapsaveslives #metis #supportlocal #rotary

2020 was a big year and we've seen incredible growth. Due to the pandemic and the disproportional impact on communities already struggling, many people have had to make the hard decision between food or soap. This is a tragic reality that we believe no one should have to face. So, in 2020 we worked with over 370 Community Facilities including over 80 Indigenous communities to provide essential hygiene products. Now, with the Covid-19 pandemic in it's second wave, we're seeing... the cumulative impacts of this extended health crisis take its toll. Have a look at our 2020 Impact Report to get a glimpse of what we've accomplished with the help of our incredible partners at Diamond Delivery and First Canadian Messenger & the RCMP who have helped with the exponential costs of delivery to remote communities across the province. A lot happened! So we've attached a few pages of the 23 page report! When we think back to all we've accomplished and how the community has come together for one another it brings tears to our eyes. Despite a tragic year, we've seen so many people rise to the challenge and be good neighbours demonstrating to the world what community care can look like. THANK YOU!

We are fortunate to be able to help in many communities ... one that is close to my heart is Port McNeill, British Columbia. We were first introduced to this community during the summer when we drove 2 vans up to full of food and hygiene amenities. After being part of the distribution at the chuch, we became fast friends with some stellar community members that embody caring, kindness, and generosity like no one I have ever met before. Their passion to help others is infecti...ous. Since the summer, we have been able to continue support with the help of the RCMP. In this particular distribution, amenities were sent to Port Hardy. 1 pallet of items stayed in Port Hardy and the other was delivered by the RCMP to Port McNeill. Wow! What an incredible act of service. We are thrilled to be able to support the North Island with hygiene and linens. #DoWhatYouCan #supportlocal #soapsaveslives #RCMP #porthardy #portmcneill #HygieneMatters

Thank you to the Rotary Club Campbell River for your generous support of our program. We love working with you to provide hygiene amenities back into your community. Much appreciation for picking up at your local hotels, bringing the product down to the warehouse in Victoria, then distributing our products back into your community. A WIN-WIN for all of us. #dowhatyoucan #supportlocal #soapsaveslives #campbellriver #Rotary #rotary5020 #washwithsoap

Seniors hold a special place in our hearts and we are so happy when we are able to provide essential hygiene products to them. Many do not have the money to buy what they need as they struggle to just pay rent and eat. We know that for some, Christmas is hard at the best of times, and this year might be a bit more challenging for those not able to visit with loved ones. Yes, we are all experiencing this BUT for seniors it is especially lonely. We had the help of many Grade 1 ...students that put their art and writing skills to work and made Christmas cards for some of the seniors we help. These are being distributed this week and we hope that it brightens their day. #soapsaveslives #dowhatyoucan #Seniors #kidshelpingseniors #spreadingholidaycheer See more

With the last orders of the year out the door and the world around us dusted with Christmas wonder, we are getting ready to wrap up and tell our story of 2020. Do you have a photo or story you'd like to share about Soap for Hope Canada's impact? Share it with us at [email protected]

Check this out! Rick's Heart Foundation continues to a trusted and loyal supporter of us here at Soap for Hope Canada

It's really cold and wet out there this week, and with the recent fire and flood at local community services, our unhoused neighbors are having a harder time than usual staying warm and dry. One of the Community Facilities we serve is stepping up to try fill in a bit of the gap in services this week and one of the the biggest asks they've had has been for gloves. Let's see what we can do to help meet this need!... If you have some cozy winter gloves that you would like to donate, please bring them to our warehouse at 426 William St between 9am and 4pm - Tuesday, Thursday or Friday this week.

A big shout out to Victoria Guest Services Network - VGSN for the support you provide Soap for Hope Canada. We hare happy to be part of a great organization of hospitality professionals who care for people in our communities. With gratitude! #dowhatyoucan #soapsaveslives #thinklocal #yyj

Our Victoria warehouse is receiving directly-purchased essential hygiene products nearly everyday as we keep up with rising needs in our communities. Until our Caring Community Partners (hotels) can get back up to full operations and resume the flow of gently used hygiene products for our volunteers to reprocess for distribution, SFHC continues to bulk-purchase these items.

Talk about community spirit, ACME Supplies just donated 5 pallets of amenities! Thank you, ACME

Our parking lot is under construction! Please call prior to coming to the warehouse: 250-590-1462. Thank you

Hats off to Larry! Since 2018, Larry McGifford has volunteered his time, his truck and his gas money to collecting hygiene and retired linen products from our Vancouver Island Caring Community Partners (hotels) and delivering re-purposed essential hygiene items, linens, clothing back to our Vancouver Island community facilities located along his route. Larry figures he’s made between 25-30 roundtrips from Tofino to Victoria for Soap for Hope Canada, averaging at least one tr...ip a month. At 201 kms each way, that is more than 10,000 kms that Larry has logged so farwith no sign of slowing down (except maybe for wildlife). Sometimes he has the company of his wife, Dawn, along for the ride and the pair lunch or walk the beaches in Tofino, but more often than not, the passenger seat and the rear cab seats of his truck are filled with products and Larry makes the journey solo. This 67-year old retired fire chief from the Port Alberni Fire Department and president-elect of the Rotary Club of Port Alberni-Arrowsmith, Larry is making the most of his retirement and feels so positive about his years of service to his community and his volunteer driving role at Soap for Hope Canada. You can’t help but feel good about helping people, he says.

It's Orange Shirt Day! What are you doing to keep the conversation going? https://youtu.be/j_VWxjDLwAc

Our warehouse will be closed Wednesday through Friday, as our staff will be serving our hotels up-island. If you have any pressing needs, please be sure to email us at: [email protected]

https://youtu.be/ll1pUrK29MM

Orange Shirt Day is nearly here, what are you doing to keep the conversation going?

We continue to be thankful and beyond humbled by the ongoing support and generosity of Ricks Heart Foundation BC and Diamond Delivery In the face of great change and uncertainty they have continued to go above and beyond to ensure the Community Facilities we serve throughout the province receive the hygiene essentials they need. So far this year they have shipped over 50,000 pounds of product for us!!!

https://youtu.be/vzAqaTjNLQU

https://facingcanada.facinghistory.org/orange-shirt-day

Hi Soap community! We have just had an urgent call out for adult, pull-on protective underwear; size large. If you or anyone you know is looking for a place to donate such a thing, please think of us

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZSajwGAR/

https://youtu.be/riSqg53AJb8

Speak up. Reach out. Listen.

Soap for Hope and HeroWork had their lunch at BigWheel Burger today in support of the United Way of Greater Victoria. Today is #burgerday4unitedway! They will donate $2 from every burger sold to the United Way of Greater Victoria PLUS The Big Wheel Community Foundation will also be donating $1! #supportlocal #buytheburger #dowhatyoucan

Two months ago Eddy Charlie and I were contacted by Discovery Coffee to share that they would be interested in participating again with Xe Xe Smun' Eems(Sacred ...Children) 4th Orange Shirt Day City Ceremony September 30th 2020. Discovery Coffee also said that they'd like to do more to help raise awareness about Canadas Residential Schools and the importance of standing for Orange Shirt Day, " Every Child Matters" (Phyllis Jack-Webstad) Introducing Xe Xe Smun' Eem Blend of coffee In acknowledgment and honor of Residential School Survivors and those who never made it back home. Our gratitude to you Brittany Davies for reaching out to us on behalf of Discovery Coffee. Design by local artist Bear Horne See more

We would like to thank ACE Courier Service for always being such a loyal supporter of Soap for Hope. We are lucky to have such a great company doing much shipping in BC and AB for us. They pick up our products and deliver to multiple Community Facilities, take products to our warehouse in AB and help us out with deliveries. Great service, friendly staff and always prompt! With gratitude. #supportlocal #greatdeliveryservice #ACECourierService #dowhatyoucan

Congratulations to all the winning bidders for the Soap for Hope Auction!!!! We are practising social distancing so please call 250-590-1462 to set up a time to pick up your purchace. Can't wait to see all the smiles when you get to see your beautiful items and take them home :)

Less than 1 hour to go!!!! https://www.32auctions.com/soapforhopecanada

Only 4 hours left!!! Go to 32auctions.com/soapforhopeOnly 4 hours left!!! Go to 32auctions.com/soapforhope