Grand Appliance stores host diaper drives throughout February
Fifteen Grand Appliance locations in northeastern Illinois and southern Wisconsin will host diaper drives throughout February to benefit Twice As Nice Mother & Child, a Waukegan-based nonprofit that assists families in need.
The drive is the undertaking of a new foundation started last summer by leaders of the appliance chain. The GRAND Foundation - or Giving Resources to Achieve and Nurture Dreams - this year started a 12 Months of Giving program, and Twice As Nice is the featured February beneficiary.
"Our goal with the foundation is being able to help out the communities in which our stores are located," said Meagan Gauri, foundation coordinator. "We're very excited about it, and this is such a strong need - a basic need."
One in three families struggles to afford enough diapers to keep their babies clean, dry and healthy, according to Ann Marie Mathis, founder and executive director of Twice As Nice Mother & Child.
No government programs assist with diaper need. Families sometimes must choose between buying diapers - which cost an average of $80 to $100 per month, per child - or paying for heat, rent or other basic necessities.
"We are so honored and excited to be selected as the Grand Foundation's February featured charity," Mathis said. "Diaper distribution is our flagship program. The need is growing, and we're doing our best to fill it."
Twice As Nice Mother & Child distributed 376,602 diapers in 2018, up 176,000 over the number distributed in 2017, and up 276,000 over 2016, Mathis said. The agency presently serves more than 350 children a month through its on-site diaper program in conjunction with 30 partner agencies, and an additional 507 through its mobile diaper pantry.
Grand Appliance has 22 stores in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Iowa. Donation bins will be in place through Feb. 28 in the 14 stores located in and nearest to Lake County, Illinois, as well as at the corporate office in Sturtevant, Wisconsin.
Stores participating in the diaper drive include those in Waukegan, Libertyville, Forest Park, Crystal Lake, Lake Zurich, Naperville, Orland Park and Chicago in Illinois; and Genesee Depot, Greenfield, Kenosha, Racine, Brookfield and Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.
For other information, visit www.twiceasnicemc.org and www.grandfound.org.
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