Diaper drive set for May 19 at McHenry Outdoor

McHENRY — As every parent of an infant knows, diapers are a significant expense, costing upwards of $1,000 or more a year to diaper one child.

In fact, according to the National Diaper Bank Network, one in two U.S. families cannot afford enough diapers to keep their children dry and healthy. Three in five parents miss work or school because they cannot supply the necessary allotment of diapers to their child’s day care center, according to statistics at nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org. Public assistance programs like WIC or SNAP do not cover diapers.

The need is great, and as president of the board for Kids in Need of McHenry County, Dawn Bremer is acutely aware. That’s why she’s spearheading a diaper drive coming up Sunday, May 19, at the McHenry Outdoor Theater.

The event — co-sponsored by The Bremer Team – Keller Williams Success Realty and the theater — will benefit both Kids in Need and Keeping Families Covered. The latter is a Waukegan-based nonprofit that distributes roughly 1 million diapers a year to families and partnering agencies like Kids In Need throughout Lake and McHenry counties, as well as southeastern Wisconsin.

“We thought with our partnership with the Outdoor and (owner) Scott Dehn’s generosity and love of the community, we could raise awareness and generate a lot of diapers,” said Bremer, who also is owner and president of The Bremer Team.

The drive will start at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 19. Anyone bringing at least one unopened package of diapers in any size will receive free admission to stay and watch a special showing of “The Boss Baby,” Bremer and Dehn said.

“Come out, help your neighbors, and have some fun with us at the Outdoor,” Dehn said. “What a great way to help supply an essential need for area families who may be struggling.”

Elgin residents Kimberly and Jeremy Miller, season pass holders and frequent visitors to the Outdoor, said they already delivered several packages of diapers in support of the drive. They were glad to do so, they said, and hope others also will strongly support the effort.

"Diapers are essential," Kimberly Miller said. "When we found out they're collecting diapers, we wanted to help."

Kids in Need is a nonprofit supporting schools, families, foster parents and organizations that need help providing for children’s needs. Planning is under way for an Oct. 19 fundraising gala at the Holiday Inn in Crystal Lake. More information about the organization, including ways to help, is available at kinmc.org.

Those interested in more information about Keeping Families covered can visit keepingfamiliescovered.org. Additionally, anyone who would like to help but who is unable to attend the May 19 event can drop diapers off at The Bremer Team’s office, 1218 N. Green St., Unit D, McHenry, or at the Outdoor, 1510 N. Chapel Hill Road, during business hours.