Mothers & More Kicks Off Diaper Drive in DuPage County
DUPAGE COUNTY - In a baby's first year, families will spend up to $1,200 to change about 2,500 dirty diapers. To many moms, diapers are another item in the never-ending list of baby expenses, but to low-income moms diapers are simply unaffordable.
To help support moms in need, Mothers & More, a membership organization providing community and programming for moms, is hosting a diaper drive, "We Could All Use a Little Change" for its 14th annual Mother's Day Campaign. Throughout April and May, residents are encouraged to donate diapers in collection bins at the following locations:
• Naperville Riverwalk Community Center, 305 W. Jackson, Naperville
• Fox Valley Park District Eola Community Center, 555 S. Eola Road, Aurora
• Warrenville Park District Community Center, 3S260 Warren Ave, Warrenville
• Wheaton Parks Community Center, 1777 S. Blanchard Rd., Wheaton
Mothers & More also will host an event open to the public at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, at Strand Fitness, 124 N. Main St., Wheaton. This "Pamper Party" will have various pampering stations such as massage and a short meditation/stress reduction class. Refreshments will be served. Cost to attend is one bag of diapers. RSVP to Rebecca Osterman at rebeccaosterman@yahoo.com
All diapers will be donated to the People's Resource Center, a nonprofit organization that offers food, basic necessities and other services to low-income residents of DuPage County. PRC also will be accepting diaper donations at their locations at 201 S. Naperville Road in Wheaton or 649 Blackhawk in Westmont.
The following are a few reasons why Mothers & More chose to focus their campaign on diaper donations:
• Government assistance programs such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (food stamps) do not cover the purchase of diapers.
• Cloth diapers are not an option for families in need of diapers. Many low-income families do not have washing machines and many Laundromats do not allow cloth diapers. Additionally, licensed day care centers, especially the free and subsidized centers, don't accept cloth diapers.
• For families that can't afford diapers, a baby may spend an extended period of time in a soiled diaper, increasing the risk for numerous health problems.
"Mothers & More is about understanding what moms go through and offering support, and this diaper drive allows us to recognize and help mothers in need in a tangible way," said Rebecca Osterman, diaper drive organizer and head of Mothers & More DuPage Chapter Community Outreach.
Osterman added: "Through our partnership with People's Resource Center and the help of individual diaper donations, we can make a substantial change and contribution to our community. Working together, we can call attention to a hidden problem while providing much needed assistance to local families."
People's Resource Center Senior Director of Programs Melissa Travis said: "We don't receive nearly enough diaper donations to meet the demand. We currently give 6 to 10 diapers per child per month, which barely scratches the surface. Therefore, it's great when community organizations such as Mothers & More can help us provide our clients with an item that is such a necessity."
About Mothers & More
Mothers & More is a membership organization that provides community and programming for moms through all stages, phases and transitions of motherhood. For 27 years, Mothers & More has been offering moms support through social gatherings, playgroups, educational webinars, Facebook special interest groups, book clubs (locally and nationally) and more. There are 2,400 members spread through 40 chapters across the United States. For more information, visit www.mothersandmore.org. For local chapter news, visit www.dupagemothersandmore.org.
About People's Resource Center
Since 1975, People's Resource Center has been bringing neighbors together to respond to hunger and poverty in DuPage County. With a team of over 1,500 volunteers, we offer nutritious food and other basic necessities like clothes and rent assistance for people facing tough times. And we connect people with resources-education and tutoring, jobs, technology, art, a caring community-to create a future of hope and opportunity for all. For more information, visit http://www.peoplesrc.org/