Stacy Wiener, Founder of S.A.CK. (Supporting A Community with Kindness), discovered through volunteering at food pantries, that there was a lack of essential toiletries available. One key reason is that people are not able to use government subsidies, such as food stamps (i.e. SNAP – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), to purchase them. When it comes to deciding on whether to eat vs. buy soap and shampoo, the choice becomes simple. So, in September of 2017, S.A.C.K. was started as a grassroots effort to help address this need while connecting people from all over the world, interested in crocheting/knitting soap sacks and then donating them (with a bar of soap in each one) to homeless shelters, food pantries, relief efforts, veteran clinics and social service agencies.
Since starting S.A.C.K., we estimate that over 450,000 soap sacks have been distributed by volunteers in every state in the U.S., as well as Asia, Australia, Europe and Canada. The response has also been overwhelmingly positive, with over 9,500 Facebook and 2,500 Instagram followers. There is a definite need for toiletries throughout the underserved population.
Under the Patterns/Resources menu tab are sample patterns for making soap sacks as well as tags to be included on each. However, any pattern can be used as long as the finished sacks are approximately 4 x 6 inches and a loop or drawstring is added. The yarn should be cotton – it’s soft and easy to wash. Premier Home, Sugar n Cream as well as Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton and Hobby Lobby I Love This Cotton are all great yarns to use when making soap sacks.
While we accept donations of bar soap and crocheted or knitted sacks, we encourage you to donate soap sacks (with a full size bar of soap in its original packaging in each one) in your local area.
Our vision is to inspire communities of volunteers around the world to crochet/knit, collect and donate soap sacks to their local food pantries, homeless centers, veterans clinics, social service agencies and relief efforts.
You can refer to the following websites for homeless shelters and food pantries in your area: www.foodpantries.org and www.homelessshelterdirectory.org
These two sites provide detailed information such as hours of operation, address and phone number.
There are many ways to get soap for the sacks. Dollar stores as well as big box stores sell soap at a discounted price.
Boy/Girl Scouts, church and temple youth groups, Key Club high school chapters, Elks Lodges and stores/companies have all coordinated soap drives in the past.
You can reach out to those and similar groups in your communities for help.
Thank you… for visiting our website, for being part of the soap sack movement and for caring about people in need.
S.A.C.K. is a 501(c)(3) Public Charity Organization