The True Cost of a Shower: Breaking Down What It Takes to Serve Our Community
At Showering Love, we believe that access to hygiene is a basic human right. A warm shower can restore dignity, confidence, and hope. But have you ever wondered what it takes to provide mobile showers for our community? Let’s break down the true cost of a shower and how you can help keep this vital service running.
What Goes Into a Mobile Shower?
Our two mobile shower buses are fully self-contained, meaning they don’t need to hook up to external water or power sources. Each bus is equipped with clean, private shower stalls, fresh towels, hygiene products, and even a spritz of cologne or perfume to help our guests feel refreshed. Every person who steps onto our bus receives:
✔️ A 10-minute private shower
✔️ A new pair of socks, underwear, and a t-shirt
✔️ Access to hygiene essentials like soap, shampoo, deodorant, and feminine care products
✔️ A clean towel and washcloth
✔️ A safe, welcoming space
But behind the scenes, keeping this service going takes a lot of resources.
The Cost of Keeping Our Buses Rolling
Providing showers isn’t as simple as turning on the water. Here’s a look at the real costs:
🚿 Daily Operational Costs: Running our mobile showers requires fuel, insurance, staff, and supplies, all of which add up quickly.
💧 Water & Sanitation: Each guest uses an estimated 7-10 gallons of water per shower—multiplied by 50 showers a day! Plus, we ensure each bathroom is disinfected after every use.
🛠️ Bus Maintenance & Repairs: Our buses log hundreds of miles a week, so regular maintenance is a must. Repairs can cost anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the issue.
🧼 Hygiene Supplies & Clothing: Thanks to generous partners like Bombas and other donors, we can provide fresh socks, underwear, and hygiene kits. However, we always need to replenish these essentials.
Partnerships Keep Us Going
We wouldn’t be able to provide showers without the incredible support of our community partners, including:
Bombas for donating thousands of socks, undergarments, and t-shirts
Local organizations & nonprofits that help us reach people in need
Volunteers who show up to distribute supplies, offer support, and spread kindness
How You Can Help
🚍 Sponsor a Shower Day: Help cover the cost of a full day of showers or contribute to keeping our buses running.
🧴 Donate Hygiene Kits: Soap, shampoo, deodorant, and feminine hygiene products are always in demand.
💰 Make a Donation: Every contribution—big or small—helps provide dignity and hope to those in need.
💛 Volunteer With Us: Join us on-site to hand out towels, supplies, and support our guests.
Every shower we provide is a step toward dignity, self-care, and hope. Will you help us continue our mission?
➡️ Donate Now or Sign Up to Volunteer!
