Product Donations in our Communities

In times of great need, it’s critically important to take care of those on the frontlines.

From hospitals to homeless shelters, airports and 911 dispatch centers, these heroes are risking their own health and wellbeing to keep us safe—often enduring unimaginable levels of stress in the process. As a soap company, we’re in a unique position to help fight the spread of Covid-19 by providing product donations to communities with limited access to personal hygiene products.

Over the last few weeks, our Manufacturing, Retail, Digital and Charitable Giving teams rallied together to identify how we could get product donations into the hands of those who need them the most. We were able to fulfill the requests of organizations across North America and prioritize the locations and people often missing from traditional emergency response models.

To date, we’ve arranged deliveries of tens of thousands of Lush products to non-profit organizations on the frontlines providing support to vulnerable communities in Vancouver and Toronto, where our manufacturing and head offices are based.

We have sent gifts of appreciation to thousands of frontline healthcare and essential service workers, including those in hospitals and long-term care facilities, 911 dispatchers, paramedics, postal workers, childcare workers and airline attendants in the Vancouver area. We hope that those working around the clock and risking their health to keep our communities safe can take a moment to recharge before facing tomorrow.

And as a company that cares deeply about animals, we worked closely in partnership with animal protection organizations to ensure that our friends are cared for. Animal shelters, rehabilitation programs and protection centers are all in need of urgent support as they too are feeling the economic impact of this challenging time.

So where did these donations go?

We donated over 10,000 bath bombs to postal workers in Vancouver and Toronto with the support of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW-STTP).

“Your support for, and recognition of, the difficulties faced by so many frontline workers is much needed in these most challenging times.” – Jan Simpson, CUPW National President

In Vancouver we have prepared donations for over 50 organizations, totaling over 37,000 products and more than 50,000 bars of scent-free soap. This includes 8600 products to the Canadian Union of Public Employees, 2000 products to the Hospital Employees’ Union and 25,000 bars of scent-free soap to the City of Vancouver and other organizations coordinating Covid-19 response in the Downtown Eastside.

We’re incredibly grateful to the following organizations, among many others, who helped to distribute our product donations and gifts of appreciation in the Vancouver area:

• BC Provincial Health Services Authority
• Kiwassa Neighborhood House
• Britannia Childcare Centre
• BC Women’s and Children’s Hospital
• Directions Youth Services
• Women's Information Safe House (WISH)
• John Howard Society of Lower Mainland
• Binners' Project
• Saige Community Food Bank
• Sanctuary Health
• Union Gospel Mission
• Portland Hotels Society
• Directions Youth Services

In Toronto and the wider GTA, over 130,000 products have been distributed to 55 community organizations servicing the needs of women, children, senior citizens, immigrants and homeless communities. This includes 10,000 products going to the Toronto Professional Fire Fighters Association, 8000 products to Native Child and Family Services Toronto and 8000 products to the Jane Finch Community and Family Center.

We’re fortunate to have partnered with the following organizations, among many others, who helped to distribute our product donations and gifts of appreciation in the Toronto area:

• Butterfly
• Haven on the Q
• Regeneration Brampton
• Hobbitstee Wildlife
• Lincoln County Humane Society
• Guelph Humane Society
• Kitchener Waterloo Humane Society
• Days for Girls Toronto
• Fauna Foundation (NAPSA partner)
• Caregivers' Action Centre (CAC)
• Toronto Wildlife Centre
• McMaster Children's Hospital

We believe in mutual aid—these are not acts of charity. Limiting the spread of coronavirus is paramount at this time, and we are doing what we can to ensure that everyone can follow the recommended health guidelines. As the situation surrounding Covid-19 continues to evolve and new challenges arise, we will be ready to adapt our response. While the need is great, so too is the outpouring of love and support in our community. Thank you for your continued patience and support as we navigate this uncharted territory together.

Want to know more about what Lush is doing in response to Covid-19? Read more here or contact our dedicated Customer Care team.