RSSDire drive for diapers
Erin Barry stocks jars of baby food at the Community Food Bank of Grand Junction Monday morning.
Struggling families with young children are in dire need of diapers as well as healthy food for their children. They come to Community Food Bank of Grand Junction and other local agencies seeking diapers and are often disappointed.
Diapers are not something the community normally gives when donating non-perishable items at local food drives, said Erica Kitzman, volunteer at the food bank and organizer of the first diaper drive in Grand Junction.
Kitzman explained that parents often request diapers, wipes and cream for their children but rarely are their enough donations to fulfill their needs.
“So children are sitting in wet, dirty diapers or their sitting in dried-out ones the parents are trying to reuse. That can cause all kinds of health problems,” she said.
Kitzman and a number of other local volunteers are organizing the first “1-in-3 Diaper Drive” which will take place Sunday, Oct. 16th from 1 — 3 p.m. at Heritage Church, 583 29 Road.
The drive is modeled after the suggestions of the Kimberly Clark Diaper Bank, founded by the makers of Huggies, According to Huggies.com, one in three infants are in need of clean diapers.
There are only a handful of diaper banks operating across the country and Kitzman hopes to establish one in Grand Junction.
The first step to starting a permanent diaper bank is to have a drive to gauge community support, Kitzman said.
“I’m envisioning an entire truckload from this drive and someday an entire building filled with diapers,” Kitzman said.
A non-profit diaper bank would distribute diapers through a variety of local organizations including the Catholic Outreach or women’s shelter, she said.
“It would be a place where agencies could call and get all the diapers they need,” she added.
A variety of local businesses and groups have stepped-up to support the effort. Grand Valley Moms for Moms and Kidzplex will have a diaper drop event from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Oct. 13 at 609 25 Road. A child can get free admission to the Fun Factory for each diaper donation.
Colorado Baby, local provider of modern cloth diapering systems at 203 Grand Ave., will offer its diaper kits for $49.95. The one-size-fits-all kits provide enough diapers for children ages 3 months through potty-training.
“There is just a huge need here that we need to help,” Kitzman said.
COMMENTS
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.