Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Diaper Appeal Kicks Off

From the Middlesex United Way


Honor your mother or father by helping a Middlesex County baby to stay healthy and happy. The Middlesex County Diaper Committee is sponsoring its annual Mothers and Fathers Day Diaper Appeal now through Fathers Day. When you make a contribution of at least $25.00 in honor of, or in memory of, your mother or father will receive a card in your name.

Nearly 3,000 babies in Middlesex County live in families too poor to diaper them properly leaving their health and well-being seriously at-risk. It can cost $800 a year to adequately diaper a child, and diaper purchases are not covered by WIC (Women, Infants and Children) or SNAP (food stamps). Licensed childcare providers will not allow cloth diapers, and laundromats do not allow the cleaning of cloth diapers due to potential health risks.

Due to the success of last year’s Diaper Appeal, Middlesex County was accepted as a permanent service area of The Diaper Bank. Thanks to a generous community and a $10,000 contribution from Middlesex United Way, we raised the $25,000 necessary to become a member. As a service area, four local programs serving Middlesex County residents receive a monthly delivery of disposable diapers totally 120,000 each year, enough to assist 200 families in need.

But there is still work to be done and many more families to help in order to support this continued and expanded distribution. Your support of the Diaper Appeal will allow The Diaper Bank to purchase diapers for much less through bulk purchases and non-profit distribution. Every gift makes a difference.

You may donate online at: www.thediaperbank.org and write in “Middlesex County” in the designation field along with the name address of the person you’d like to receive a card in the dedication field.

About the Middlesex County Diaper Committee
In early 2009 Middlesex United Way initiated advocacy efforts to find a solution to the lack of a permanent diaper bank in Middlesex County. They were joined in 2010 by the Middlesex Coalition for Children as a partner to form the Middlesex County Diaper Committee. An appeal for donations and diaper drives to address this need yielded more than 70,000 diapers from hundreds of donors. Now, Middlesex County has become a service are of The Diaper Bank and a monthly supply of disposable diapers is delivered to four local programs: Maternal and Child Health at Middlesex Hospital; Early Head Start; Even Start Family Literacy at Middletown Adult Education; and the Family Wellness Center at Community Health Center. All programs serve families throughout Middlesex County.

2 comments:

John Hall said...

Change from the bottom up! That's their slogan, and how appropriate.

parent by choice said...

Why not turn to the organizations that promise support when they encourage women to continue pregnancies they cannot afford, and discourage other choices?

See the list at http://www.ct4women.com/pc_centers.html

in Middletown,

"ABC Women's Center is a unique, caring place where a woman can receive the information needed to make informed choices about pregnancy, abortion, adoption, parenting and her sexuality. We are committed to helping her make decisions that she will not regret and we will stick by her when the going gets tough"

So, why are you turning to the public when these groups have already committed to cover these needs?