Manchester Student, MACC Teaming Up To Start Diaper Bank

MANCHESTER, CT — A Manchester High School student is teaming with with the Manchester Area Conference of Churches to set up a diaper bank in town.

Kyle Zingler, a sophomore at MHS, is calling it the Gentle Love Diaper Pantry. He began the collaboration with MACC to fill a gap left by government assistance programs and those who have lost income because of coronavirus closures.

Plus, he added, diapers can be a hard-to-find commodity these days.

"Hundreds of parents are unemployed and cannot afford to purchase diapers, which easily accumulate into a significant expense for families," he said. "Retailers have also struggled to keep shelves stocked with diapers because of disruption within the supply chain and influx in demand."

MAAC officials said diapers can cost "upwards of $80 per a month," per child.

"The mission of Gentle Love Diaper Pantry is to showcase the heart of the Manchester community by connecting families who face economic barriers with diapers," Zingler said.

The pantry has scheduld its first contactless diaper drive for June 11 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Manchester High School’s Summit Street parking lot, 134 East Middle Turnpike.

Members of the community can place the diapers in the trunks of their vehicles and volunteers will safely remove them upon arrival. All the diapers collected will be brought to MACC, which will then help distribute the them to families in need.