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Seeing a growing need for shower services, the Salvation Army is launching Soap With Hope, a community shower program, at its downtown location.
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Executive director Danny Pinksen said that while a daily, hot shower is a basic staple for most people, it’s not a reality for many people who find themselves homeless or living on the streets.
“We’ve known for some time that one of the challenges for people who live on the streets, understanding that some people choose to live on the streets even while there are other choices, one of the huge needs — I call them stopgaps within our community — is shower services,” Pinksen said.
“I can’t imagine what it’s like to go without a shower for one day. Can you imagine someone who goes without a shower for days and some people for even weeks.
“And they’re wearing the same clothes.”
I call it a basic staple, just getting a shower every day
To help fill the gap, the Salvation Army will begin offering appointments to use its shower facilities. To start, three appointments will be booked every morning from Monday to Friday.
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“We expect that it will grow rather quickly but we want to be able to do it in a manageable way,” Pinksen said.
Both men and women, ages 16 and older, are welcome.
Toiletries, personal care items and feminine hygiene products will be available, as will clean underwear and socks.
Pinksen said the Salvation Army is accepting donations of products for the program.
The Soap With Hope program was scheduled to launch two years ago but like many other things had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pinksen said it’s difficult to quantify the current need but said in speaking with partner shelters in the region, many “overwhelmingly” agree the need for the service is huge for folks living on the streets.
“And it’s not about the why,” he said. “If we just take the why and we park that for a while but understanding that people are in that situation.
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“So offering a shower is more than just being physically clean. I believe it gives us an opportunity to promote better health, better hygiene and providing dignity to people who would not otherwise be able to avail of a shower.
“I call it a basic staple, just getting a shower every day.”
Folks can drop in at the center to book an appointment or call 519-253-7473.
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