A group in Co Antrim have been using a hygiene store to help people through a difficult few years.
The ReFresh Hygiene Store, which is based at The Sparrow Centre in the Ledcom Industrial Estate in Larne, started as a way to help the local community during the pandemic.
But as lockdown began to draw to a close, the volunteers noticed a need for toiletries endured as the cost of living crisis began.
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The store, which was set up by Antrim Coast Vineyard, use the motto of "hope and dignity" as a way to do what they can to help people in the area who may be struggling.
At the ReFresh store, people can come in and help themselves to free toiletries, with the shop stocked by donations of everything ranging from essentials to more luxury items such as make up. All items available are offered free of charge.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Andrea Howard said the group are passionate about doing what they can to support their wider community, and have been able to collaborate with other groups to do so.
She said anyone can come and use the facilities at ReFresh, while donations are always welcome.
"We kept thinking about what we could do as a group to help our community. We thought it would be amazing if people could come, like a shop, and pick up the toiletries that they want and need for themselves and their families in a dignified way," Andrea explained.
"So it would be like a shop where they can choose what they wanted, there would be no waste, they wouldn't be given things that aren't for them. Then they would get those completely free of charge.
"We have stock of all basic toiletries, anything you can think of from toilet roll to toothpaste, to hand soap, shampoo and conditioner. We have this real emphasis on hope and dignity.
"We went to the foodbank in Larne last January and told them what we were thinking of doing and they said it was brilliant. They are able to provide basic toiletries, but they just don't have the capacity or storage space for the extras.
"We felt like this was one area we could really make a difference to people. We've had collaborations with HomeStart and SureStart. We have some fabulous MLAs here who have been a big help, John Stewart and Stewart Dickson. They have been extremely supportive."
The group place a trolley outside The Sparrow Centre where new, unopened, and unused toiletries can be placed for donations. They also take collections at church service each Sunday in the Vineyard next door.
Andrea said the wider community have been "extremely generous," adding that they are happy to continue running the hygiene store for the foreseeable future.
She said: "We had started coming out of coronavirus and we didn't know what the cost of living crisis would bring, that was very much on our minds. We thought if we could help people with one part of what they need, they would have more money for their food and fuel.
"We believe people deserve to be and feel clean, and everyone deserves access to toiletries. We feel it's a privilege to be able to help people in this way.
"We're not about looking down on people or thinking people are different, we're a community, we've all had different needs at different points in our lives, it's very much about working together.
"In our first four weeks, we had 31 separate visits here, and over 500 items went out. That's huge.
"We'll do this for as long as it's needed. Our volunteers are a great bunch of people who are very passionate. It's amazing what happens when a community comes together."
Every Sunday night, the volunteer-led group post the opening hours for ReFresh for the week ahead. You can find out more through The Sparrow Centre's Facebook page by clicking here.
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