HUNTINGTON – The Village Closet received a truckload of diapers at the end of January, thanks to a generous donation from Baystate Health.
Mollie Hartford, director of outreach and development for It Takes a Village, said the donation was part of a Baystate Health Community Impact Grant of $5,000 that the non-profit organization received this year. She said $500 is in in-kind donations, which included the 2,600 diapers picked up at Baystate Noble and delivered by Westfield Kiwanis Club member George Delisle to The Village Closet.
Hartford said The Village Closet has the only diaper bank registered with the National Diaper Bank Registry, and is the only one to her knowledge in the area. She said they also received 2,000 newborn diapers from the Ronald MacDonald House in Springfield, and more from the United Way of Hampshire County.
The Village Closet relocated in August, 2020 to the former St. Thomas Church on 2 E. Main St. in Huntington. In addition to diapers, they offer maternity, baby, and children’s clothing, supplies, and toys. Everything here is 100 percent free to everyone in the community, regardless of income or town of residence.
Hartford said they have been getting a lot of requests for basic needs items, especially right before Christmas. They also had a lot of requests for toys, because some toy drives weren’t running this year. They also received a lot of donations for toys for the same reason.
“We gave away just under $100,000 worth of materials in December - usually what we give in a whole year. People came from all over,” Hartford said, adding they do recommend programs in other towns that are closer to people that come from far away, but nobody gets turned away.
In addition to the need for diapers, Hartford said they get a lot of requests for baby formula, because a lot of food pantries don’t carry it. She said one mother told her that even one can of formula makes WIC dollars go farther.
“It’s such an amazing space. We’re grateful every single day for [owner] Gerry [Farrelly],” Hartford said, adding that when they do get a large donation like the one from Baystate Health, they now have the space to put them out. “We also big enough to let in one appointment at a time,” she said.
Appointment and donation information may be found at hilltownvillage.org, emailing info@hilltownvillage.org, or by calling 650-3640.
The Link LonkFebruary 04, 2021 at 11:33PM
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Village Closet receives diaper delivery from Baystate Health - Reminder Publications
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