 
(Joani & Derreck hanging out at a local convention)
One of the things I treasure most about running a blog is the opportunity I have to spread the word about wonderful charitable projects available. The Hubs and I have been on a small getaway, where I had the privilege of meeting and speaking with one of CNN's Top Ten Hero's of 2011, Derreck Kayongo.
Derreck is a humanitarian relief expert whose own family fled the tyranny of Uganda in 1979. During this tragic era, close to one million people lost their lives. Many, like Derreck, then 10 years old, were displaced in refugee camps and he witnessed first hand the struggle to survive without access to basic human necessities. Listening as he told stories of his struggles in the camp brought a tear to my cheek.
After arriving in the U.S. he shared an experience at his first stay in a U.S. Hotel in 1990, where he noticed how many bars of soaps were available, “Face Soap, Hand Soap, Body Soap.” It was upon leaving the hotel that he found out that the used bars of soap were discarded, he was stunned. He said this blew him away for many could not afford this simple product back in his homeland. Interestingly, enough Derrick's father was a soap maker.
That is the idea that began the Global Soap Project. Derreck estimates that 2.6 million bars of soap are discarded every day from hotels in the United States. Collecting such an enormous amount of soap, can help poor countries fight lower respiratory diarrhea related diseases, from which, an estimated 2 million children a year die from.
“Are we really throwing away that much soap at the expense of other people who don't have anything? It just doesn't sound right.”
If you can't see the video, go here to view at CNN.
Derreck began his vision by going from hotel to hotel with his pick-up truck. Then recycled the soap by hand, had it sent to a lab for safety testing and boxed it up for it's journey. Now, hotels across the country, including Hilton Hotels donate their used bars of soap for this amazing cause.
How can you help? While I was listening to Derreck speak, I couldn't help but wonder what I could do. The need is for used soap bars that would have otherwise gone to land fills, NOT new soap. Derreck's request was simple enough, just inform the hotels you visit about the project, ask them to participate and provide them with the website information.
Then, I got to thinking about what a great Scout Service project this would make. What if each group of Scouts contacted various Hotels in their area, informed them of the project and asked them to collect the bars of soap for a couple of weeks? The scouts could go back and collect the soap and hopefully, leave the hotel with the awareness and decision to continue donating on their own. Please note that because every brand is distinct, they do not mix soap. Each is sorted into containers for each hotel and brand. Keep that in mind when you are collecting.
You could also have your volunteers set up Car Washes, Lemonade Stands etc. make flyers to pass out, then donate the money collected. This would be a great way to raise awareness.
If you are struggling with a new kind of scout community service or, other fundraiser project idea, for your volunteer group this could fit the bill.
For more information visit GlobalSoap.org. For more about Derreck Kayongo visit CNN Heros page.
Thank You.
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