Travelodge, the UK’s largest independent hotel brand has announced it has donated over 1.5 million bars of soap to charity. The mountain of soap which weighed more than 17 tons is surplus stock, following Travelodge introducing new liquid soap dispensers into all of its 36,986 UK rooms.
Travelodge has partnered up with the charity In Kind Direct, which was founded in 1996 by HRH Prince Charles. The charity provides a single contact point for companies with useable, quality surplus goods to donate to a vast range of UK charities working both domestically and abroad.
Over 2,000 charities will benefit from Travelodge’s mammoth soap donation. This includes the following organisations:
- International Health Partners who are supporting healthcare professionals and medical NGOs in the fight against Ebola in Sierra Leone. Ebola is easily killed by soap, and washing with soap is an important method of protecting people and communities from the spread of the virus.
- British Red Cross Refugee Support who work to help refugees and asylum seekers access essential services, such as hygiene, food and clothing.
- Fresh Start in Edinburgh who helps and support people who have been homeless to get established in new homes.
- Goal for the Gambia a charity that supports schools and young people in The Gambia, providing education and improved facilities such as housing and hygiene.
James Williams, Deputy Chief Executive, In Kind Direct said:“Travelodge’s soap donation will be hugely welcomed by charities, some which support our most disadvantaged communities. Our distribution model means that we can get stock to thousands of grassroots charities working at the front line to help those in real need. Currently many families are struggling to make ends meet and affording the basics can be a real challenge.”
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About In Kind Direct
In Kind Direct re-distributes usable products donated by some of the UK’s best known companies to charities working in the UK and abroad. See its short video on how the service works for donors and charities.