LANCASTER - Bottoms Up Diaper Drive founders Jo and Tim Welsh celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in 2018. But the community received the presents.
"We started just kind of on a whim," she said. "We were celebrating our 40th anniversary and Tim said, 'Why don't we just ask people to give us boxes of diapers instead of gifts? Then we'll find some people to give them away to.' Because of his work in working with women's ministry he knew the need for diapers."
They got about 80 boxes of disposable diapers then and haven't stopped giving them out since. The Welshes now give out about 60,000 diapers per month. They also give out diaper wipes.
"It started out at 3,000 and we thought that was big," Jo Welsh said of the diapers. "Then we got to 5,000 and 15,000 and we thought that was big."
She said one in three families struggle to buy diapers.
"It's just such basic need," Jo Welsh said. "I hear stories from moms that are just so grateful that the pantry they go to has the sizes they need. Some moms are in recovery and need diapers just to see their kids for a day. It's just such a basic need and most people don't think about it."
Bottoms Up Diaper Drive is a non-profit agency that collects donated diapers to give away to those in need. It works through food pantries, child-care centers, domestic violence shelters and pregnancy centers. Those agencies then give the diapers to those they serve.
Though not affiliated with the Catholic Church, she said she serves the needy along the same geographic lines as the Diocese of Columbus. That means the agency expands out of central Ohio all the way down to Portsmouth in Scioto County.
The diapers are either physically donated or people donate money for the Welshes to buy them.
"We have a bit of purchasing power because we buy them by the truckload," Jo Welsh said. "So we can get them a little bit better. But some folks just like buying diapers and drop them off on my front porch. People just love the idea that they're helping babies."
The Welshes deliver some diapers themselves, but also rely on volunteers throughout central and southern Ohio to deliver them. While they do get some grants, they are privately funded and are not affiliated with any government agency.
For now, the Welshes are getting ready for the World's Largest Diaper Drive Saturday with the Lancaster-Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce's leadership program. They want to collect 250,000 diapers in central Ohio
Away from work, Jo Welsh enjoys reading and yardwork. She also likes to hike and is planning on a two-day hiking trip out west this summer with her sister.
"You'll see me walking around town with my backpack on because I have to get conditioned for it," Jo Welsh said.
She is the mother of five grown children and is awaiting her fourth grandchild in June.
Visit www.bottomsup.life and https://ift.tt/3dRVocn for more information about both Bottoms Up and the diaper drive or call Jo Welsh at 740-808-6131.
jbarron@gannett.com
740-304-9296
Twitter: @JeffDBarron
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Aces of Trades: Jo Welsh is dedicated to providing diapers to needy families - Lancaster Eagle Gazette
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