We began as a local Apothecary serving our community with wellness and personal care staples like herbs, teas, creams, bitters, and of course, soap. Today we carry over 10,000 products and, although it’s hard to play favorites, it’s fair to say that our collection of internationally sourced bar soaps is perhaps the crown jewel of our collection.
In 2020, our collective hand washing went, justifiably, through the roof. Soaps flew off our shelves. The need and desire for safety, cleanliness, and wellness was apparent. But we knew not everyone was able to access the personal hygiene staples they needed. So we partnered with Twincraft Skincare and since spring 2020 we have donated thousands of bars of soaps to food pantries and social service organizations throughout Chicago. Connecting with these organizations, who are working hard to serve people most in need in our city, was a return to our roots as a community destination for wellness.
As we approach the holiday season, we encourage our customers to give back where they can in their communities. And when you can, shop local. As we gather with our friends and family this year, let our gratitude and generosity spill to our neighbors and communities.
Here is a complete list of soap donation recipients, all amazing organizations worth supporting, whether or not you live in Chicago:
Assata’s Daughters
Assata’s Daughters is a Black woman-led, young person-directed organization rooted in the Black Radical Tradition. Assata’s Daughters organizes young Black people in Chicago by providing them with political education, leadership development, mentorship, and revolutionary services. Through their programs they aim to deepen, escalate, and sustain the movement for Black Liberation.
Donate To Assata’s Daughters →
Brave Space Alliance
Brave Space Alliance is the first Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ+ Center located on the South Side of Chicago, dedicated to creating and providing affirming, culturally competent, for-us by-us resources, programming, and services for LGBTQ+ individuals on the South and West sides of the city.
Brave Space Alliance continues to expand their resources and currently operates a crisis pantry network, a mutual aid program, support groups and affirming spaces for trans men, trans women, and nonbinary folks, an employment justice program and more. Housing support and mental health support programs are forthcoming.
Donate to Brave Space Alliance→
Casa Catalina
Serving approximately 350 people every week, Casa Catalina is committed to serving the basic needs of people in the Back Of The Yards neighborhood.
Learn more about Casa Catalina→
Center on Halsted
Center On Halsted advances community and secures the health and wellbeing of the LGBTQ people of Chicagoland.
The Center currently offers a wide array of services including behavioral health services, letters of support for gender affirming surgeries, free HIV/HCV testing, social events and meals for LGBTQ+ seniors, recreational, cultural and family programs, youth programs and anti-violence programs.
Chicago Birthworks Collective
The Chicago Birthworks Collective was launched in 2018 by Toni and Tayo, a mom and daughter doula duo as the first collective of birth workers, healers, and wellness practitioners uniquely serving Black birthing families across Chicago!
Staffed by more than one dozen birth workers, Chicago Birthworks collective is dedicated to providing culturally affirming pre-and post natal care to families so that they can have empowered birthing experiences.
They are currently providing a variety of in-person and virtual birthing support packages, lactation support, membership-based educational resources through their virtual birth village, curated care packages for Black families in need and much more.
Learn more about Chicago Birthworks Collective→
Common Pantry
Common Pantry meets the emergency needs of our local community by providing healthy food, kinship and support to help overcome poverty-related challenges. Common Pantry takes a strategic, forward-thinking approach to reduce hunger and address the root causes of poverty, infusing compassion into everything they do
Community Support Services
Community Support Services is a private, nonprofit service agency that initiates, provides and promotes services for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families, within their communities, in order to strengthen their independence, self esteem, and ability to participate in and contribute to community life.
Donate to Community Support Services →
Heartland Alliance
Heartland Alliance works to advance human rights and champion human dignity by providing services and promoting solutions to achieve a more just global society. They provide health and healing services, trauma-informed safety & justice programs, and employment opportunities.
Donate to Heartland Alliance →
The Friendship Center
The Friendship Center fosters hope and dignity in Chicago’s northwest side communities through access to food and vital resources. They operate a full-scale food pantry that provides groceries for 2,000 people every month. Our service area includes the Albany Park, Lincoln Square, North Park, Ravenswood and West Ridge neighborhoods of Chicago.
The Friendship Center also offers hot meals on Thursday nights, weekly grocery deliveries to seniors and people who are homebound, school supplies, clothing, and pet food and supplies.
Donate to The Friendship Center→
La Casa Norte
La Casa Norte's mission is to assist youth and families who are at-risk or experiencing homelessness. They operate using a housing-first model and they deliver comprehensive services that act as a catalyst to transform lives and communities.
La Casa Norte is currently offering a variety of programs including life-skills and technology training, education support, employment-readiness, case management, therapy, food, clothing, and transportation assistance.
My Block My Hood My City
My Block My Hood My City is dedicated to inspiring youth, empowering communities, and building a better world one block at a time. They provide opportunities for others to step outside their comfort zone and explore new communities, cultures, and cuisines in an effort to gain a greater understanding of the world. They provide senior services including access to basic hygiene, health and food supplies and youth services which include scholarships, youth and senior connection programs, art and recreation programs.
Donate to My Block My Hood My City →
Ravenswood Community Services
Ravenswood Community Services (RCS) provides meals, groceries, basic health services, and life-skills education to neighbors in need in the Uptown and Ravenswood communities on the north side of Chicago.
Donate to Ravenswood Community Services →
Sarah’s Circle
Sarah's Circle is dedicated to ending homelessness for women in Chicago. Their programs utilize a Housing First model, have no barriers to entry, and use a trauma-informed approach.
They're currently operating a Daytime Support Center, Interim Housing Program, Permanent Supportive Housing Program and a new Rapid Rehousing Program for those whose housing has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Search empowers individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to achieve their full potential, accept a valued role in their community and lead rich, rewarding lives. Search offers a wide range of flexible, personalized services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities including supported living communities, adult learning, career services, clinical services and visibility arts.
Our soap donation remains active and we're always looking for more organizations to support in the Great Chicago area. If you represent an organization in need of soap, please contact us.