When students Jaslynn Lee and Yuyou Zhang of The Cultural Health Equity Initiative took on the ambitious goal of organizing a hygiene drive to support Simply the Basics, their vision was clear: to empower those facing hygiene insecurity in their local communities. Partnering with Simply the Basics, these dedicated high school students channeled their passion and creativity into collecting over 1,400 hygiene items! Through their efforts, they not only brought essential supplies to those in need but also gained valuable insights about the complex challenges of hygiene insecurity. Below is a snapshot interview with Jaslynn and Yuyou to learn more about their experience and inspiration behind working with us and furthering our impact!

What inspired you to host a hygiene drive, and why did you choose Simply the Basics as the organization to support?

Since our goal is to uplift communities and support those in need and our organization is dedicated to ensuring people have the resources to improve their health and achieve their personal goals, we saw this as a perfect opportunity to do so. Aware of the hygiene insecurities around our neighboring cities like San Francisco, we were drawn to Simply the Basics. We did some research and looked through the work Simply the Basics has done throughout their time and noticed the positive impact it brought to communities so we thought it would be a great idea to work with Simply the Basics to gain experience and kickstart our organization. 

What was the most eye-opening thing you learned about hygiene insecurity through this experience?

The most eye-opening thing we have learned through this experience is how hygiene insecurity is intertwined with a larger systemic issue, like poverty, homelessness, and access to healthcare. Through stories from locals, we have been presented with many perspectives that made us realize there’s a significant gap in public awareness about how critical hygiene is to maintaining one’s quality of life. Hygiene insecurity is just one facet of a much larger problem, but through drives like this, we can understand how much basic hygiene products can drastically improve one’s life while spreading awareness about the issue. 

How did your team come together to gather donations, and what strategies worked best for you?

For our drive, we posted posters both online and around our neighborhoods as well as sharing the news with family and friends. During our drive, we had fliers around our booth and handed our fliers to people who were interested in donating which in the long run worked well for us as it brought more people to us who wanted to know more about what we were doing and who we were impacting. 

Was there a moment during your drive that really stuck with you, whether it was a conversation or a donation?

Many moments stood out to us during our two-week journey, but the most touching was when a donor approached us to share her story of experiencing homelessness and hygiene insecurity. She spoke about the challenges she faced during those difficult years and how hard those years of her life were. She became really emotional and then went on to show how appreciative she was for the work that we were doing for our communities. Her story deeply resonated with us and aligned with our mission, motivating us to continue our work with an even greater determination.

What advice would you give to others looking to host their own drive or support Simply the Basics?

Some advice we would give to others looking to host their own hygiene drive is to take time for thorough planning. That includes making sure to host the drive in an ideal location (lots of foot traffic, friendly people, etc). It took us a lot of time to find a stable place to set up, but eventually, we settled outside our local Target. This location allowed us to engage with customers and encourage them to donate hygiene products as part of their regular shopping routine. Another piece of advice we would give is to remain resilient in the face of differing opinions. From our experience, we came across some people who questioned the necessity of our efforts. The best way to respond to critiques like that is to respect their views while upholding yours too. 

Jaslynn and Yuyou, we are so grateful to all your time and generosity in hosting such an impactful Hygiene Drive Your effort truly supports building healthier and stronger communities!