“Clean the World has been working since 2009 to recycle unused or gently used hotel toiletries and redistribute them to those in need to combat hygiene-related illness. The nonprofit partners with 4,000 hotels across North America. So far it has served 10 million people in more than 127 countries, according to the organization’s website.

The group also has a mobile shower truck that travels through various impoverished neighborhoods across the country, said Project Manager Jeremiah Benton. The mobile unit is designed to provide up to 60 showers a day.

To Clean the World, hygiene is just as much of a basic need as food.

“Something people don’t think about is that (bathing) is necessary for anyone to stay healthy,” he said. “In 2009, 9,000 children died from hygiene-related illness. Today that number is down to 3,900, but that number could be zero.” …