Overview
On January 27, 2026, Care for All Canada partnered with Horizons for Youth to host a skincare product distribution and educational workshop for youth supported by the organization. This initiative is part of our continuing mission to advance health equity by improving access to essential skin care, hygiene, and wound care products, while pairing product distribution with practical education on safe and effective use.
Horizons for Youth provides shelter and supportive programming for young people in Toronto experiencing housing instability. This event was designed to support youth skin health through both material access and practical education, recognizing that skincare and hygiene products are most helpful when recipients also understand how and when to use them.
Activities and Engagement
Product Distribution:
Care for All Canada provided approximately 600 travel-sized skincare and hygiene products for youth at Horizons for Youth. Based on the products discussed during event planning, this included approximately 75 moisturizing creams, 75 acne facial cleansers, 75 facial lotions, 75 moisturizing lotions, 75 hydrating cleansers, 75 general facial cleansers, 75 healing ointments, and 75 baby healing ointments. These Cetaphil and CeraVe products were selected to support common youth skin health needs, including acne care, gentle cleansing, moisturization, skin barrier support, and general hygiene. The donation was intended to support both youth attending the workshop and the broader resident population at Horizons for Youth.
Educational Workshop:
Care for All Canada volunteers delivered an interactive educational session focused on common skin and hygiene concerns affecting youth and young adults. Topics included acne, eczema, psoriasis, skin cancer awareness, prevention strategies, and general best practices for maintaining skin health. The session was designed to be practical, accessible, and non-stigmatizing, while avoiding individualized medical advice.
Kahoot-Based Learning Activity:
To reinforce the educational content, volunteers incorporated a Kahoot activity based on the workshop material. This helped make the session more engaging and youth-centered, while giving participants an opportunity to review key concepts in a low-pressure and interactive format.
One-on-One Conversations:
Following the formal education component, volunteers were available to answer general questions and help youth understand how to use the products provided. These conversations allowed for more individualized guidance around product selection, cleanser use, moisturization, acne care, and when to seek professional care for persistent or concerning skin concerns.
Community Impact
Workshop Participants: approximately 10 youth
Residents Supported Through Product Availability: up to 46 youth
Products Delivered: approximately 600 skincare and hygiene products
Estimated Product-to-Resident Availability: approximately 13 products per resident, based on a 46-youth shelter capacity
Product Categories Provided: moisturizers, facial cleansers, acne cleansers, hydrating cleansers, facial lotions, moisturizing lotions, and healing ointments
The event was well aligned with Horizons for Youth’s programming model and the needs identified during planning. The organization noted that approximately 10 youth had recently been attending programs, while the residence had capacity for 45 youth plus one alternate space. This allowed Care for All Canada to structure the event to serve both the youth attending the workshop and the broader resident population through product availability.
Reflections and Next Steps
This event highlighted the value of pairing product distribution with education. Providing skin care and hygiene products is most impactful when youth also receive practical guidance on what products are for, how to use them safely, and how to recognize when a skin concern may require medical attention.
Moving forward, Care for All Canada will:
Continue integrating interactive education, including Kahoot-style review activities, into youth-focused outreach events.
Prioritize high-yield youth-focused products, including acne facial cleansers, gentle facial cleansers, moisturizers, and healing ointments.
Develop age-appropriate educational materials on acne, eczema, sun protection, and basic wound care.
Explore future workshops with Horizons for Youth, including additional sessions in the spring or later programming periods.
We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Horizons for Youth and support their work with young people in Toronto. This event reflected Care for All Canada’s broader commitment to delivering practical, respectful, and education-informed outreach to communities facing barriers to care.
Prepared by:
Care for All Canada
careforallcanada@gmail.com