Prepping DIY Hygiene Kits for our Unhoused Neighbors
As Thanksgiving nears, Harlem’s legacy of care and community-led action stands out. This year, reductions to SNAP benefits have deepened food insecurity, making basic needs–like meals and hygiene essentials–even harder to access. Many in our community now face hard choices, going without necessities they once relied on.
Harlem’s response is, as always, rooted in collective action. Residents are assembling DIY hygiene kits for neighbors facing homelessness or hardship after SNAP cuts. These kits restore dignity and fill gaps left by inadequate support systems.
Why Hygiene Kits Matter More Than Ever
SNAP reductions don’t just mean less food on the table. They ripple outward, forcing families to shift their limited budgets away from essential non-food items like soap, toothpaste, pads, deodorant, and shampoo. These items—though vital for health, self-esteem, and daily function—are not covered by SNAP at all.
When people are forced to choose between a meal and a bar of soap, no choice is truly dignified.
For Harlem’s unhoused community, the barriers are even steeper. Access to showers, laundry, and basic sanitation is inconsistent across the city, making it nearly impossible to purchase everyday hygiene items.
DIY hygiene kits step into this crisis with something simple yet powerful: tools that help people care for themselves with pride and autonomy. What Goes Into a Thoughtful Hygiene Kit
Volunteers gather travel-sized, lightweight items that make daily life easier to manage. A typical Harlem DIY kit includes:
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Bar soap or body wash
Deodorant
Hand sanitizer
Shampoo & conditioner
Wet wipes
Sanitary pads and panty liners
Lotion or petroleum jelly
A reusable mask
Small first-aid essentials
A pair of socks
A hearty snack (nuts, protein bar, crackers)
A note of encouragement or affirmation
These aren’t just items in a bag—each one restores a bit of control, a bit of confidence, and a bit of comfort.
Beyond Charity: Radical Support, Not Pity
One thing our community consistently reminds us:
People do not want pity. They want respect, solidarity, and empowerment.
Pity emphasizes difference. It creates distance. It frames someone as “less than.”
Radical support, however, says:
Your struggle is my struggle. Your dignity is non-negotiable. Your well-being matters because you matter.
This initiative recognizes that every person deserves access to cleanliness, comfort, and care as a basic human right. Our aim is not charity but solidarity—standing with our neighbors as equals who have been let down by broader economic forces.
This is mutual aid at its core: people taking care of one another, without hierarchy, without shame, and without conditions.
Harlem has always been a place where people help when systems fall short. Faith groups, local creatives, small businesses, and families all come together to sort donations, share stories, listen with compassion, and create meaningful support.
There’s joy in the process, too—music playing, children helping, elders guiding, strangers turning into collaborators. It is a reminder that community care is not only necessary; it is healing.
Every hygiene kit reflects this spirit. It says: “You’re part of us. You belong here. You deserve care.”
Your Hands Can Make a Difference
Whether you assemble a single kit or contribute supplies for twenty, you become part of a larger movement of dignity-centered support. You do not need deep pockets—just a deep belief that every person deserves to feel clean, respected, and cared for.
This Thanksgiving, as you gather with loved ones, consider preparing a hygiene kit—a simple, powerful gesture that meets a basic need and reaffirms Harlem’s tradition of care.
Join Us in Giving with Purpose
To support or volunteer with the Thanksgiving in Harlem initiative, you can donate items, assemble kits, or assist with distribution day. Together, we can ensure our unhoused neighbors and those impacted by SNAP cuts feel seen, supported, and empowered—not just during the holidays, but throughout the year.
