Royal Star & Garter is seeking donations of toiletries for the vulnerable veterans it cares for following a shortage caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

The charity’s 63-room care home in Surbiton, on the corner of Upper Brighton Road and Langley Avenue, is in desperate need of items including deodorant, soap and toothpaste for its residents.

It is asking for individuals in the local community to volunteer their help by providing toiletries for the residents. It is also appealing to central London and local hotels which may be closed to guests to drop off surplus stock at the Home.

It comes after the charity, which provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia, temporarily stopped all visits as part of its infection management protocol.

As a result, residents, who would either go to the shops with their carers or receive goods from family and friends, have been unable to get new toiletries. The charity has been able to purchase some locally, but this is limited because of restrictions brought in by shops to tackle stockpiling.

The charity is asking for the following new and unused products:

• Body Spray (male and female)
• Deodorant (male and female)
• Dental fixtures
• Shampoo (male and female)
• Shower gel (male and female)
• Liquid soap
• Toothpaste
• Conditioner
• Hairspray
• Lip balm
• Steradent dental cleaner

Home Manager Helena Maher said: “Personal care is hugely important to our residents, supporting their well-being and dignity. So whether it’s an individual donation from a family, or a bulk donation from a hotel, whatever we receive will make a real difference to the veterans in our care.”

Any individuals or hotels with surplus toiletry stock are asked to leave donations at the designated drop-off point at the front of the Home in clearly marked polythene bags. Staff will be safely checking this at regular points during the day.

The public are asked to drop off donations of toiletries at the Home as part of their daily exercise routine. They should also take all necessary precautions and observe social distancing.