CHILLICOTHE — A group of volunteers who have spent the past few months collecting diapers and wipes are looking to make history by participating in the world's largest diaper drive.
Lancaster-based nonprofit Bottoms Up is partnering with Ross County Right to Life and St. Peter's Catholic Church to help provide diapers to women, children and families in need. They've already collected 25,000 diapers, but their efforts aren't done.
Between April 17 to 25, the local volunteers are working to collect more donations that will be counted towards the Bottoms Up Diaper Drive goal to raise 250,000 nappies.
"This is not political - it doesn't matter if you're pro-life or pro-choice," said Lynn Anderson, a retired teacher and St. Peter's volunteer. "We all know what happens when babies have wet, irritated bottoms."
With their church neighboring Elizabeth's Hope Pregnancy Resources — a faith-based center that provides free pregnancy testing — Anderson and local organizer Audrey Glass saw a need for diapers and wipes in the community.
Before the pandemic, diapers were expensive, and one in three U.S. families could not afford them. Throughout COVID-19, with people out of work and children out of school, the demand for diapers has been greater than ever.
Since most public aid programs do not cover the cost of diapers — which average about $80 a month per child — those in need rely on food and diaper banks. But even with numerous resources available locally, there's no guarantee the local drives will even have diapers.
That's why Glass reached out to Bottoms Up President and Co-Founder Jo Welsh to bring the program to Ross County.
"Most moms know how many diapers they have," said Glass. As a mother of two, she said she's down to her last box at home. "But you never know how many diapers you'll need. Some days it's five, others it's 15."
Bottoms Up started in 2018, when Welsh and her husband Tim were planning to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. Hoping to collect a box of diapers for every year they've been wed, the Welshes received an outpouring of support.
The organization continued to grow and in the first year, they were giving away around 3,000 diapers a month. To date, Bottoms Up has delivered more than 560,000 diapers, and they've increased donations to about 60,000 a month across nine Ohio counties.
Welsh said that in the Appalachia region, in particular, the program has grown due to increasing needs. And without government assistance to help pay for diapers, the women said that parents are put in a tough spot.
Families who depend on child-care centers or babysitters are often required to provide diapers. If parents are unable to afford the product, they cannot utilize the service. In turn, they might be forced to miss work — and pay — or find an alternative option.
If low-income families are able to get a box, they might not be able to change diapers at regular intervals, said Anderson, and it isn't uncommon for parents in this situation to leave diapers on too long or wash disposable ones for reuse. It's a major cause of maternal stress and depression, can affect childhood development and even increase the likelihood of multigenerational poverty, according to a Yale University study.
Through the collection of diapers and wipes, organizers hope to alleviate the impact of this national issue on the local community by donating supplies to area nonprofits which then distribute them to clients. Everything that's collected in Ross County will stay here.
Between April 17 and 25, Glass and Anderson are collecting diapers to go towards Bottoms Up's goal to organize the world's largest diaper drive. Donations are accepted at St. Peter's Catholic Church, at 118 Church St., and St. Mary's Catholic Church, at 61. S. Paint St. in Chillicothe.
The community is invited to participate and get involved. Those seeking more information are asked to contact the church or call 740-774-1407.
Have a story tip or comment? Contact Toria at tbarnhart@gannett.com or 740-349-1106. Follow her on Twitter @ToriaBarnhart.
Read or Share this story: https://ift.tt/2Q8fXYR
The Link LonkApril 08, 2021 at 03:37PM
https://ift.tt/2Q8fXYR
Ross County volunteers participating in world's largest diaper drive to address local need - Chillicothe Gazette
https://ift.tt/2Comt7j
Diapers
No comments:
Post a Comment