National Diaper Need
Macon Program for Progress will collect diapers and baby wipes as part of “National Diaper Need Awareness Week” Sept. 27-Oct. 3.
Tasmen Bissell, program monitor for MPP Head Start, said the goal of the new “Project Love” is to establish a diaper bank that will assist families in need. “We’ve done some surveys in the community that highlighted a stronger need than we thought was there.”
According to a survey MPP conducted with 50 families, 60% reported they experienced a diaper shortage in the last year.
MPP also plans to establish a bank to provide feminine hygiene products for women and girls and will work with Macon County Schools to address period poverty needs for girls.
Diapers are essential to a baby’s healthy development. Bissell said for some families, especially during COVID, it can be an economic struggle to have enough supplies to diaper appropriately.
Once the diaper bank is established, MPP will work with other local agencies such as department of social services, the health department, REACH, and others to ensure the supplies get to the people who need them. The recipients will also receive educational materials.
“We are not looking at an income requirement, we’re more looking at a need,” Bissell said. “With COVID it has been a really rough situation for a lot of people.”
They are still working out the details about how distribution will work, but she said they want to make sure the supplies get to the families that need it most.
An average monthly supply of diapers costs approximately $80, according to the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN). Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is the only federal assistance program that can be used for diapers however those funds cover many other expenses such as heat, electric and water bills, rent, clothing, transportation and other basic needs.
Most child care facilities require parents to provide diapers for their children. Nationally, 57% of parents experiencing diaper need who rely on child care said they missed an average of four days of work or school in the past month because they didn’t have diapers, according to NDBN.
North Carolina currently has three NDBN-member diaper banks that distribute more than 2.7 million diapers annually.
Macon Program for Progress will collect diapers of all sizes and wipes are needed as well. Cash donations also will be accepted, which will allow MPP to buy needed supplies for families. Donations may be dropped off at the MPP office, 82 E. Orchard View Lane (behind Lowe’s). For more information, call 828-524-4471.