Since June 2022, Lidl has been taking donations from customers through their ‘Good to Give‘ campaign, as well as collecting surplus stock from their stores and donating some profits, to share out amongst food banks and poverty charities. In just the first six months, Greater Manchester reportedly donated a whopping 37,160 meals, and now the charity initiative has expanded to take donations of hygiene products due to high demand from recipients.
A report published by The Hygiene Bank in October 2022 highlighted the issues surrounding people’s struggle to buy basic items such as soap and deodorant, and how this is having a devastating effect on their daily lives. 3.2 million UK adults are affected by hygiene poverty – with 12% saying that they have avoided going to work and facing colleagues as a result.
Following new research revealing that 72% of local charities need more toiletries to support communities through the cost of living crisis, Lidl now plans to expand ‘Good to Give’ to 10 of their hygiene products.
Shoppers will be able to spot the ‘Good to Give’ trustmark on price tickets for 10 essential sanitary and personal care items, including tampons, toothpaste and nappies, from 16th March. These can be dropped at existing donation points located past the checkouts in all Lidl GB stores and will be collected by charity volunteers who already come to pick up food donations weekly.
Mark Newbold, Senior CSR Manager at Lidl GB, said: “With the cost of living crisis continuing to put pressure on local communities, we want to go beyond our commitment to making good food accessible to everyone by looking at other support we can provide.
“Hygiene poverty is the daily reality for over 3.2 million adults across the country, and our charity partners working day in day out with those in need have told us that the problem is only growing. We hope that by providing grants and encouraging our customers to once again donate a little differently, we can get more local charities more of these basic yet vital products.”
Lidl is also providing £50,000 worth of grants for local organisations working to tackle hygiene poverty in their communities, within its network coordinated by Neighbourly.
From 16th March, the ‘Good to Give’ trustmark will be indicated on product price tickets and in-store signage (including shelves and posters) for 10 hygiene products.
Full list of ‘Good to Give’ hygiene items:
· Cien Kids 2in1 Shampoo
· Assorted Cien Herbal Shampoo
· Assorted Cien Shower Gel
· Cien Handwash
· Cien Antibacterial Hand Gel
· Assorted Classic Dentalux Toothbrush
· Dentalux Toothpaste Sensitive/Total Care
· Assorted Dentalux Mouthwash
· Lupilu Junior Nappies Size 5
· Tampax Compak