For the month of August, The Tryon Civitan Club is collecting disposable diapers as part of its No Child Wet Behind project to benefit Coastal Women’s Shelter, Religious Community Services, and the Craven County Health Department.
This is Tryon Civitan’s Third Annual diaper collection. We are trying to raise the community’s awareness of the need for disposable diapers (adult and baby).
Unlike baby formula and food, diapers are not covered by the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC. That means parents are forced to make hard choices: food or diapers? Food assistance is available from local charities and food banks, but getting free diapers is a harder task. Local organizations that carry diapers run out of them fast, and often don’t have a regular donation of diapers.
Lower-income families and especially single parents often struggle to keep their child in diapers. Disposable diapers can cost up to $100 a month for one baby. On average, a newborn goes through 8 to 10 diapers a day. Often, parents compensate by keeping their child in dirty diapers longer, which can lead to bad rashes or even staph infections, reusing soiled disposable diapers, and even resorting to using plastic bags to serve as diapers.
To make matters worse, parents must provide disposable diapers for their children who attend child care; nurseries and child care centers do not allow cloth diapers to be used.
You can drop off your diaper donation at The UPS Store, 1822 South Glenburnie Road (across the street from the main post office). The UPS Store is open Monday – Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday 8am to 4pm.
For more information, contact Project Chair, Janet Routier at 602-463-7209 or Tryon Civitan President, Loriann Harker at 252-633-2218.
Submitted by: Loriann Harker, Tryon Civitan Club