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Back to News & ArticlesTackling Australia’s hygiene poverty crisis
Everyday many Australians experience hygiene poverty, face the tough decision between buying hygiene products or feeding themselves and their family.
At Bank First, we care and we empower. This doesn’t mean we care only for our customers in healthcare and education alike. We also care about their communities, whether you’re family, friends, patients or students.
No one should go without hygiene essentials in any situation, let alone when they are vulnerable. That’s why Pinchapoo is such a great organisation that we support.
Who are Pinchapoo?
As the biggest national not-for-profit supplier of personal hygiene essentials, Pinchapoo’s (short for Pinch-a-Shampoo) mission is to support Australian’s who experience hygiene poverty.
Each year products that have been discontinued or simply pulled off the shelves, are destined for landfill, even when they’re still usable.
To reduce waste, and support disadvantaged women, men and children, Pinchapoo redistributes more than 8.5million of these products each year to those in need.
Working with over 600+ organisations, community groups and government institutions, they support Australians in need of hygiene products when they need them most.
At Bank First, we’ve committed to supporting Pinchapoo through the provision of 25,000 hygiene packs.
Supporting Australians
Have you ever been in hospital in an emergency without your toothbrush or essentials?
Take Haley for example:
"I was admitted to hospital last year for unknown cramping, it turned out to be gallstones. The day I came out of surgery I got my period and I was told they only had one pad left for the entire ward.
“The next morning I asked another nurse for a pad or tampon (anything really) and was told I could go downstairs to the chemist. Meanwhile, I had a drain coming out of my stomach and was on a drip! I was physically unable to walk downstairs.
“Unfortunately, my only option was to wait for my partner to come later that morning and by that time I had bled through the gown and all of the bedding!“I honestly couldn't have been more embarrassed! If only the ground could have opened up and swallowed me."