2013 Diaper Drive – Changing lives 1 diaper at a time!

For the 3^rd consecutive year, Livingston County residents joined forces to help their fellow neighbors by collecting over 31,000 diapers during this year’s 2013 Livingston County Diaper Drive!

 Diaper need is a silent crisis – one in three Americans struggle to afford diapers for their children.  34% of families surveyed had to cut back on basics such as food, utilities or even childcare in order to purchase diapers for their child.  These families will often keep their child in soiled diapers for long periods of time or attempt to reuse them to meet their diaper needs. Wet, soiled babies are crying babies – leading to additional emotional stress for the caregiver, along with health issues and emotional distress for the baby. 

Cloth diapers are not an option for many as most licensed childcare centers require disposable diapers and the majority of Laundromats won’t allow people to wash cloth diapers because of sanitary reasons.

 Because Livingston County is considered an affluent county compared to others, many forget there is still a lot of need within our community.  State and federal assistance programs do not cover the cost of diapers, which can cost over $100 per month, per child.  Local food pantries receive very few diapers during the year and are often unable to supply diapers to families.  In 2012 Gleaner’s, the major distributor of our donated diapers, reported they gave away the 25,000 donated diapers in less than 2 months!

 The Great Start Parent Coalition, a group of volunteer parents working to make a difference for early childhood in Livingston County, partnered with Kiwanis of Howell and Gleaners to exceed their donation goal for the 3^rd consecutive year!   The first year, they collected 10,000 diapers; 25,000 in 2012; and this year they collected over 31,000!  In addition to personal donations from community members, numerous other partners supported the Diaper Drive by hosting bins at their site including Edward Jones, Citizens, PNC Bank and Sylvan Learning Center.  The Howell, Brighton, and Cromaine Libraries also partnered with us again this year. 

 Heart of the Shepherd Child Development Center in Howell has been involved with this community effort every year.  Their heart for families was evident in their discounted tuition incentive which during one week in April, Director Courtni Holst gave $10 off of tuition for each pack of diapers donated.  Their center collected over 6,000 diapers!  

 Karen Storey, Public Relations Chair for Brighton teachers BEA (Brighton Education Association), lead this project within the Brighton Schools because ‘I just knew in my heart that all the staff would love to be involved in making a difference in a child and mother’s life.” When asked what she discovered through this opportunity, “I learned that our community believes in helping others.  We had grandparents, teenagers and even younger children filling our playpens full of diapers and the bus at VG’s in Brighton!”

 It never gets old seeing the community members – both individuals and businesses – work together to support one another.  Livingston County really is a great place to live and raise a family.

Great Start Livingston Collaborative:  This Collaborative is a partnership of local professionals, community leaders and parents working together in the community to build a comprehensive early childhood system for young children ages 0-5 and their families in five key areas:  child care and early education, physical health, social and emotional health, family support and parent leadership. The goal is to provide a great start for every child in Livingston County, helping them to succeed in school and life.   www.GreatStartLivingston.org