Evelyn Fuqua stands in the storeroom of the Got You Covered Diaper Program at the First United Methodist Church in Carterville. The two-year old program has been providing nearly 1,500 diapers a month to families in need.
CARTERVILLE — There are several government and private programs to help low-income families access healthy foods. But it can be harder for families with babies to get help with diapers and related supplies.
The pandemic, it seems, has made it even more challenging for young families to afford diapers, disposable training pants, wipes and ointment — all necessary for healthy children.
One nonprofit in Carterville has stepped up to help. Got You Covered diaper program has been officially incorporated as a nonprofit since November 2018.
In 2019, the organization gave away 17,000 diapers to families in Williamson and Jackson counties, and a few outlying areas.
This year, the organization will help keep even more baby bottoms dry.
Co-founder Evelyn Fuqua said more than 12,000 diapers were distributed in the first half of 2020 — about 40% above last year.
Part of the increase may be attributed to more people learning about Got You Covered, but Fuqua said, unquestionably, the pandemic has resulted in more families facing hardship.
Evelyn Fuqua selects diapers from the Got You Covered Diaper Program storeroom that will be given to a family in need.
As businesses began shutting down to slow the spread of COVID-19, Fuqua said she anticipated need rising and asked for donations on Facebook.
The response was overwhelming. “People were bringing them to my house left and right.” Friends from as far away as Florida shipped them to her.
Many “wonderful, benevolent people,” she said, helped add to the diaper stockpile stored in a room at the First United Methodist Church of Carterville.
Fuqua, a former Crainville mayor and councilwoman, said she and co-founder Michelle Parker-Clark formed Got You Covered after witnessing a need at Lighthouse Shelter in Marion for people who are homeless. After leaving the shelter, some parents would return asking for a few more diapers to help get them through a night or a week.
The shelter would always try to help, but it was such a common ask that Fuqua and Parker-Clark decided they wanted to try to do something more. Fuqua is a volunteer at the shelter and serves on its board of directors. Parker-Clark was the executive director at the time.
“We thought, ‘There’s got to be a better way,’” she said. There are a few other area organizations that also help with diapers, but Fuqua said they generally have limited hours, and more demand than they can meet.
The shortage of diaper assistance for low-income families is a common problem nationally. According to the National Diaper Bank Network, one in three families struggle to buy clean diapers for their baby. The network, a nonprofit that raises awareness about the need for diapers and diaper banks across the U.S., estimates it costs about $80 monthly on average to keep one baby in diapers.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is the only federal assistance program that can be used to buy diapers. But most families also use those funds to supplement other basic living expenses, including heat, utility bills, rent, clothing and transportation.
Neither the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) supplemental nutrition program cover diapers and wipes.
Fuqua said her organization tries to make it as convenient as possible to help families get diapers. The nonprofit relies on a number of volunteers who act as “runners” and take the diapers to established drop-off points, such as city offices or businesses that have agreed to help. Parents can then pick them up at a location and time convenient for them.
Fuqua said Got You Covered wouldn't work without the organizations and individuals who have given donations of money, diapers and their time and support. "I give all the glory to God for touching these people," she said.
Anyone needing access to diapers, or who wants to make a donation of diapers to Got You Covered, should call Fuqua at 618-922-6355 or reach out through the organization’s Facebook page. Diapers are available to families in sizes premature through 7; Got You Covered also offers swim diapers. Pull-Ups training pants are available in sizes 2T to 5T. Adult diaper sizes for older children with special needs are made available upon request. Fuqua asks that diapers go to families with a financial need, though no paperwork is required to qualify.
For donations, Fuqua said the high-demand diaper sizes are 5 and 6.
Cairo celebrates Mother Seavers' 100th birthday
Bertha Seavers (seated) waves to well wishers as her daughter, Karla Patton, looks on during a parade to celebrate Seavers’ 100th birthday on Friday, July 10 in Cairo. Seavers was the first Black librarian in Cairo.
Cairo celebrates Mother Seavers' 100th birthday
Bertha Seavers (seated) waves to well wishers as they pass her house during a parade to celebrate her 100th birthday on Friday, July 10 in Cairo.
Cairo celebrates Mother Seavers' 100th birthday
Bertha Seavers waves to well-wishers as they pass her house during a parade to celebrate her 100th birthday on Friday, July 10 in Cairo.
Tuskegee Next cadets
Tuskegee Next cadets Marcellus Lee Freeman (left) and Jessica Vargas helped deliver a shipment of 10,000 N-95 masks to Southern Illinois Healthcare on Thursday at Southern Illinois Airport. Tuskegee Next offers programs to help at-risk youth obtain pilot’s licenses and start on a path to an aviation career.
SIH receives large mask donation
Workers load up some of the 10,000 N-95 masks donated by the Will Group, a Chicago-area lighting and infrastructure firm, to Southern Illinois Healthcare on Thursday at the Southern Illinois Airport in Murphysboro. SIH will be distributing half of the masks to area agencies.
Honoring graduates
Carbondale Community High School Principal Ryan Thomas (left) delivers a yard sign to graduating senior Tavion Walker on Tuesday in Carbondale. Thomas delivered the signs Monday and Tuesday to honor the seniors as part of what should be their graduation week. The school will host a virtual commencement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Face shields
Dav Glass uses a laser cutter in his garage workshop to create face shields for health care workers.
Face Sheilds
Dallas Terry shows the framework for face shields he made for Southern Illinois Healthcare.
Drive-by parade in Du Quoin
Family and friends greet residents of the Du Quoin Nursing and Rehabilitation Center during a parade on Friday afternoon in Du Quoin. Residents haven’t been able to have visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so the parade was arranged using social distancing guidelines so families could see their loved ones.
Drive-by parade in Du Quoin
Laura and Ron Porter wave to Ron’s father, Ray Porter, during a parade by family and friends for residents of the Du Quoin Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Friday afternoon in Du Quoin. Residents haven’t been able to have visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so the parade was arranged using social distancing guidelines so families could see their loved ones.
Friendly faces
Staff from Red Bud’s Human Service Center pay a visit to their client, Dustin Boice, Friday at his home in Steeleville. A representative from the group said they would be trying to visit, using social distancing, as many of their clients at home as they could.
Friendly Faces
Rachel Fields, of Red Bud’s Human Service Center, right, tosses candy to Jane Boice Friday after she and her team paid the Boices a visit. Jane’s son, Dustin Boice, has been a client of the HSC since 2008.
Friendly faces
FRIENDLY FACES
Jane and Dustin Boice smile after members of Red Bud Human Services pay a visit Friday in Steeleville. Dustin has been a client of Human Services since 2008 and Jane said he has missed the routine of going there each day.
Hands of Hope BBQ
Workers prepare meals for health care and other frontline workers battling the coronavirus pandemic at Heartland Regional Medical Center on Tuesday, April 28 in Marion. The Hands of Hope Foundation and six area barbecue restaurants joined forces to feed the workers as a thank-you for their efforts.
Hands of Hope BBQ
Workers from Heartland Regional Medical Center pick up free barbecue meals prepared by the Hands of Hope Foundation and six area barbecue restaurants on Tuesday, April 28 in Marion.
Driving by to say 'Hello'
Becky Borowitz, a second grade teacher at Unity Point School, greets students during a drive-through of families on Tuesday, April 21 at the school.
Driving by to say 'Hello'
Stephanie Feeman (right), a third grade teacher at Unity Point School, along with her fellow teachers and staff members, greet students and their families as they drive through the school parking lot on Tuesday, April 21. It was a chance for both students and teachers to let each other know how much they miss one another while schools are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Painting hope
Barbee Braddy and her daughter, Bailee, paint the windows at Christopher City Hall on Monday, April 20. Many windows in Christopher’s downtown have been decorated with colorful flowers and scenes to brighten up the town during the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘One of a kind’: Mound City community celebrates the life of Bob Winding from afar amid coronavirus pandemic
Tommy Adams, of Mound City, on April 16 salutes a hearse carrying the body of Bob Winding, a US Army veteran who died at his home earlier this week at the age of 82. “He always had a smile that was unbelievable,” Adams said. “When you saw him, he was always smiling. He was the backbone around here.”
‘One of a kind’: Mound City community celebrates the life of Bob Winding from afar amid coronavirus pandemic
Employees of Consolidated Grain and Barge on April 16 give their final respects to Bob Winding, a US Army veteran who died at his home earlier that week at the age of 82. As friends and family were limited in attending Winding’s funeral service and interment in due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they lined the main drag in Mound City to give their final sendoffs.
‘One of a kind’: Mound City community celebrates the life of Bob Winding from afar amid coronavirus pandemic
A John Deere lawnmower that was used by Bob Winding, 82, a US Army veteran who died at his home earlier this month, sits outside of Consolidated Grain and Barge, where he worked for 25 years, on Thursday, April 16, 2020, in Mound City. As friends and family were limited in attending Winding’s funeral service and interment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they instead lined the road to give their final sendoffs.
Happy birthday
Family and friends parade past Ruth Tindall in honor of her 90th birthday on April 8 in Murphysboro.
Happy birthday
Ruth Tindall (left) takes in a parade of family and friends from her driveway to celebrate her 90th birthday while respecting social distancing guidelines as her daughter, Debbie, looks on in Murphysboro on April 8.
HRMC community donation program
Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician Jesse Glasco inspects one of two portable ventilators donated to Heartland Regional Medical Center from the Strategic National Stockpile.
HRMC community donation program
Heartland Regional Medical Center Marketing Director Herby Voss counts homemade masks donated by the Marion Elks.
Sewing warriors
Vicky Parry, a retired medical professional and president of the Shawnee Quilters Guild, makes face masks in her Du Quoin home.
Sewing warriors
Tammara Ozee makes homemade face masks at her home in Harrisburg.
Handing out food at SIU
Jennifer Jones (center), dean of students at SIU, distributes bags of emergency food to students at the Student Center on March 24 in Carbondale. University officials prepared 100 bags to help students in need of additional food during the COVID-19 crisis. Monetary donations are being accepted to help replenish the shelves of the SIU Food Pantry at: salukifunder.siu.edu/project/3218
Handing out food at SIU
Ramesh Neupane (left), associate director of SIU’s Center for International Education, and Andrew Carver, executive director of International Affairs at SIU, load bags of emergency food to deliver to international students who don’t have transportation to pick up bags themselves on March 24 in Carbondale.
We're going on a bear hunt
A white teddy bear sits in the window above the book drop at Rick Warren Memorial Public Library in Elkville.
Carbondale schools fill food-gap amidst COVID-19 outbreak
Sharon Rawls, Minnie Bandera and Kelly Stevens, all of Carbondale, put together lunches on Tuesday, March 17 at Thomas Elementary in Carbondale. Carbondale Elementary School District 95 is providing breakfast and lunch meals for nearly 1,600 students while schools are closed statewide in an attempt to stymie the spread of COVID-19.
Carbondale schools fill food-gap amidst COVID-19 outbreak
Robyn Davis, Carbondale Middle School social worker, and Brooke Kensler, Carbondale Middle School dean of students, plan to navigate the streets of Carbondale on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, while delivering lunches to local students.
Carbondale schools fill food-gap amidst COVID-19 outbreak
Robyn Davis, Carbondale Middle School social worker, unloads sacked lunches to deliver on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Carbondale. Carbondale Elementary School District 95 is providing nearly 1,600 breakfast and lunch meals to local students after school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Carbondale schools fill food-gap amidst COVID-19 outbreak
Robyn Davis, Carbondale Middle School social worker, and Brooke Kensler, Carbondale Middle School dean of students, deliver sacked lunches and toiletries on March 17 in Carbondale. Carbondale Elementary School District 95 is providing nearly 1,600 breakfast and lunch meals to local students while schools are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Food to-go
Volunteers Susan Davis (left) and Bess Shannon assist Jamie Baize pack up meals for her family at the Herrin House of Hope on Monday, March 16. The facility switched its meal service to take-out only in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
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August 26, 2020 at 09:29AM
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Carterville-based nonprofit has given out thousands of diapers during pandemic - The Southern
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