Standard Textile Partners to Provide Showers to Homeless
Standard Textile Co. Inc., Cincinnati, recently announced that it is launching a national program to combat homelessness. The company is partnering with four nonprofit organizations across the United States that provide mobile shower services to people either living on the streets or in substandard housing, with a goal of supporting 80,000 showers by the end of 2021, according to a news release.
“Ending homelessness requires a comprehensive approach,” said Gary Heiman, Standard Textile’s president and CEO. “It begins by treating those experiencing homelessness with dignity and respect, which are basic values that our partner organizations offer. And it begins with basic essentials such as a safe place to bathe and a soft towel and blanket to provide comfort. These simple acts have the potential of changing outcomes and creating a better future for those in need.”
It is estimated that 150-million people are homeless worldwide, according to UN-Habitat, an organization that monitors homelessness globally. In the U.S., approximately half a million individuals experience homelessness each day, and that number is increasing due to the pandemic.
Empowering and promoting the social and economic inclusion of all is a core value for Standard Textile. The company was founded in 1940 by Charles Heiman, who escaped the Dachau concentration camp in southern Germany. Charles Heiman sought refuge in Cincinnati, where he and his family began sewing pillowcases in their third-floor apartment and delivered them to local inns and hospitals. As the need for textiles grew, Charles Heiman hired other refugees seeking sanctuary in Cincinnati.
“We applaud the efforts of organizations such as LavaMaeX, Shower Up, Streetside Showers and Hope Thru Soap,” Gary Heiman said. “Our mission is to create bed and bath products that provide comfort to all who use our products. We are pleased that we can extend this value to assisting individuals during a time in their lives when care and comfort are needed the most.”
To read the full release, click here.