Franciscan Health Diaper Drive breaks records in pandemic

In this season of gratitude, Franciscan Health is thanking the generosity of the community for making the fourth annual Diaper Drive our most successful ever, even in the midst of a pandemic.

Donations of diapers and monetary contributions combined for 44,198 diapers, which will be distributed to help meet the needs of families in Northwest Indiana and the South Suburbs of Chicago. The annual Diaper Drive has become a tradition during Diaper Insecurity Month in October, with the goal of making sure that families have one less worry prior to the holidays. This year’s total far outpaces 2019’s total of 30,000 diapers that were delivered.

“This is our fourth year hosting, and need is even greater as the current pandemic has created an even larger need for essential items like diapers among our most vulnerable populations,” said Danielle Crowder, community health improvement manager for Franciscan Health’s Northern Division.

All donations will be delivered to the following organizations in the coming weeks and will serve more than 3,000 families in Southern Cook, Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties: Franciscan Health Crown Point and Hammond Prenatal Assistance Programs, Duneland Healthy Families, Mental Health America of Northwest Indiana, Nurse Family Partnership, Women’s Care Center of Hammond, Michigan City and Merrillville, Aid for Women, Respond Now and the Salvation Army of Michigan City.

The community can continue to contribute to these efforts by donating to the Diaper Drive at www.franciscanhealthfoundation.org/DiaperDriveSSC. All donations go to Franciscan Health’s Family Birth Center for distribution.

“In fidelity to our mission, your gift plays a vital role in continuing to provide access to care for our communities as well as continuing much-needed outreach services to our most vulnerable,” Crowder said.