We said, "Black Lives Matter." This is how we show it.

Dear Soapbox Family,

Last week, we put out a statement declaring solidarity with the Black community. We promised action. Not just brief lip service or short term efforts, but real and sustained action that is rooted in our mission. What we share next is how we hope to walk the walk over the next few months, knowing that this is just the beginning.

We’re a company founded on the idea that color, geography, and income should not determine your ability to stay healthy. Our one-for-one mission provides vulnerable populations with lifesaving soap to keep them safe from illness and honor human dignity. Disturbingly, the Black population in America is dying from Covid-19 at nearly 3X the rate of white counterparts. Despite being 13% of the population, they represent 34% of Covid-19 deaths. This is attributed to higher poverty rates, lower access to healthcare, and disproportionate representation in essential service jobs.* 

Since the beginning of Covid-19, we have donated over 2 million bars domestically to provide soap to low income and homeless people to ensure they don’t have to choose between food and soap. We will donate, at minimum, another 2 million bars in the next two months to Covid-19 relief efforts and will be intentional about strengthening partnerships and building new relationships with organizations rooted in the Black community. Knowing that race is a cruel and unjust factor in the spread of the virus, we will commit that at least one-third of the donations are going to groups directly serving at-risk Black populations. 

We will also be contributing to the East of the River Mutual Aid organized by Black Lives Matter DC. The grassroots fund provides hygiene kits, food, and other material goods to Black communities in DC who have been impacted by Covid-19. In addition to our donation to the NAACP, our team is looking into a public health focused, black-led organization to develop a long-term giving partnership with.

It is our belief that now is the time for every company, community, and individual to do their part in the fight for progress. There is much work to do but we must keep our foot on the gas and keep moving forward together. This is just the beginning of a long journey and we’re proud to walk that journey with you. 

In Solidarity, 

David Simnick

Soapbox CEO

* Source: Johns Hopkins University