Sands Cares Fresh Start Mobile Showers: Biannual Review
In July 2017, Las Vegas Sands and Clean the World responded to one of the challenges within Las Vegas’ homeless community with the Sands Cares Fresh Start Mobile Showers Powered by Clean the World, a mobile hygiene unit that visits various locations serving the homeless population to provide showers, hygiene supplies, and other resources.
In just six months, the mobile hygiene unit has provided more than 3,100 showers to 527 new and returning clients, according to data collected by WestCare. Kevin Williams, Clean the World’s mobile hygiene manager, said they have distributed approximately 5,000 hygiene kits for clients to use while showering and take with them when they leave. The hygiene kits are assembled at the annual Las Vegas Sands Global Hygiene Kit Build where Las Vegas Sands Team Members and community volunteers came together in October 2017 to assemble and package 35,000 hygiene kits to support the homeless in Southern Nevada and distribute amongst various community partners. Through Sands Cares, the company’s global corporate giving program, this effort completed a worldwide effort among Las Vegas Sands properties resulting in a total of 100,000 hygiene kits assembled.
The mobile hygiene unit recently added a new location to their weekly schedule, serving those at The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The majority of adult clients who utilized the unit were served on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Homeless Connect 365 Courtyard within the Corridor of Hope where the showers are available for five to six hours.
“We’ve definitely made an impact and the overall cleanliness of the folks we serve regularly has increased tremendously,” Williams said. “We put a smile on people’s faces all day long and the thank you’s and god bless you’s are countless.”
The Fresh Start Mobile Showers operates five days a week at the following locations:
- Monday: Stupak Center
- Tuesday: Nevada Homeless Alliance
- Wednesday: CARE Complex
- Thursday: WestCare
- Friday: The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada
