Welcome to “Meet Our Sheroes,” a series by Global Women Power, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering women through a supportive network aimed at fostering financial and emotional independence. This initiative, which began in 2015, has continuously expanded to help women become more powerful and self-reliant. Today, we are honored to introduce Meghan Freebeck, an extraordinary leader making significant strides in the nonprofit sector.
Meghan Freebeck’s journey is one marked by passion, resilience, and a deep commitment to making a difference. With a Master’s degree in English literature, specializing in Shakespeare, Meghan’s early career involved working in communications and marketing for a Shakespeare Theatre in Chicago. Her love for literature, especially Shakespeare, has always been profound, seeing the timeless relevance in his stories and characters that resonate even today. Despite her literary background, Meghan’s career took a significant turn toward the nonprofit sector. Her transition began with directing a Shakespeare Theatre, and she later found herself leading nonprofit organizations focused on homelessness and combating poverty. Meghan also worked with the San Francisco Suicide Prevention and Crisis Center, a role that profoundly impacted her perspective on societal needs.
Meghan’s experiences in San Francisco highlighted a glaring issue: many individuals in crisis were struggling to meet their basic needs. This realization led her to establish Simply the Basics in 2015. Initially focused on menstrual care, the organization has since evolved into the first internationally reaching hygiene bank, providing essential products to those in need. Simply the Basics stands out for its commitment to dignity and choice. Meghan emphasizes the importance of providing not just any supplies, but the right supplies that cater to individual preferences and needs. Whether it’s menstrual products or personal hygiene items, the organization ensures that recipients have access to quality products that respect their choices and dignity.
Simply the Basics operates on the principle that meeting basic needs is foundational to achieving greater goals. By addressing immediate necessities like hygiene products, the organization empowers individuals to focus on long-term aspirations such as employment, education, and housing stability. This mission is reflected in their holistic approach, assisting not only those experiencing homelessness but also individuals facing temporary financial hardships. Meghan’s dedication to this cause is evident in her leadership. Under her guidance, Simply the Basics has expanded its reach and impact, continuously adapting to meet the diverse needs of its recipients.
Meghan’s vision for Simply the Basics is deeply rooted in the belief that everyone deserves access to basic necessities. Her journey from literature to nonprofit leadership showcases her adaptability, compassion, and unwavering commitment to making a positive impact. As she continues to lead and inspire, Meghan remains a beacon of hope and empowerment for countless individuals.
In Meghan’s own words, “If we can help someone meet their basic needs, then they can focus on their greater goals.” This philosophy not only drives Simply the Basics but also encapsulates the spirit of empowerment that Global Women Power champions. Simply the Basics is powered by an incredible force of over 1000 volunteers each year. These dedicated individuals are the backbone of their operations, enabling them to extend their reach to over 200 cities worldwide. They achieve this through partnerships with 200 existing service sites, including women’s shelters, medical clinics, libraries, and low-income schools. Their small but mighty team, consisting of a board of directors with just five members and a staff of three, coordinates these efforts, proving that a small team can make a monumental impact.
At Simply the Basics, they believe that everyone’s needs are unique, and they aim to respect and fulfill those needs to the best of their ability. While basic hygiene items like soap, deodorant, and shampoo are essential, they recognize that true hygiene health goes beyond these basics. For instance, they provide texture-specific hair shampoo, contact solution, and various types of toothpaste tailored to different needs—from children to those with dentures. They recently received numerous requests for laundry detergent, an expensive yet vital item, underscoring their commitment to addressing all facets of hygiene.
Their structured system ensures that hygiene products reach those who need them most through four distinct methods:
- **Receiving Site Partners:** Organizations such as women’s shelters, medical clinics, libraries, and low-income schools can apply to become receiving sites. They can choose between hygiene kits, which contain 10-11 essential products, or bulk items from a curated catalog.
- **Public Markets:** These pop-up events directly serve the community, allowing individuals to select the supplies they need. Recently, at a San Francisco Library event, they served nearly 200 people, distributing over 2000 supplies in a single day.
- **Hygiene Locator:** Their website features a hygiene locator where users can find nearby organizations offering the supplies they need. The locator also allows users to filter by language, ADA compliance, and other specific services.
- **Disaster Response:** In times of natural disasters, they partner with service sites to provide emergency supplies to those displaced from their homes, ensuring they have the essentials during critical moments.
As CEO, Meghan’s days are varied and dynamic. Fundraising and maintaining relationships with donors and foundations are crucial to keeping Simply the Basics afloat, as they rely heavily on private funding. Meghan also occasionally gets her hands dirty, delivering supplies and working directly with recipients to stay grounded in their mission. She always reserves 20% of her week for unexpected tasks—whether it’s managing supplies or addressing last-minute volunteer needs, there’s always something that requires immediate attention.
Their journey began with a deep-seated passion to fill a gap in the community. Meghan gathered a group of brilliant individuals and spent six months researching and understanding the impact of hygiene inequity. This groundwork was essential to ensure their mission was not only heartfelt but factually impactful. While passion drives them, the support of their community and the measurable difference they make are what sustain them.
Starting and running a nonprofit is not a solo endeavor. It requires a community that cares and supports the cause. From tricking friends into helping out by inviting them over for brunch and surprise volunteer tasks to building long-term relationships with donors and volunteers, it’s the collective effort that brings their mission to life.
Simply the Basics recognizes the power of partnerships in achieving their goals. Method, a company known for its hygiene products, has been a founding partner of the Hygiene Bank Association, providing crucial support to get the initiative off the ground. Additionally, their Advisory Council, comprised of individuals with lived experiences and experts in public policy, health, and medicine, plays a vital role in guiding their efforts. This volunteer-based group meets a few times a year, offering invaluable insights that help shape the organization’s direction.
Meghan’s dedication to Simply the Basics is deeply personal. She acknowledges the challenges and pressures of running a nonprofit but is driven by her passion for making a difference. Her deputy director, Brittany, is a key partner in this mission, bringing compassion and expertise to their work. Together, they lead an organization that is not only impactful but also deeply committed to the communities they serve.
Running a nonprofit can often feel isolating, but Simply the Basics thrives thanks to a community of like-minded individuals and organizations. Meghan draws inspiration from the collective strength of women leaders who are equally committed to making a difference. This shared sense of purpose and support is a powerful motivator, reminding her that she is not alone in her mission. At Global Women Power, we too stand alongside her, united by our common goal to create meaningful change and driven by a collective vision for a better world.
