This is a guest post from one of our new friends, Jill, from HappyBottoms.org. Please be sure to leave a comment for Jill and congratulate her on starting this program in Kansas City!
Hey! We’re sponsoring a local KS area event with Jill and Happy Bottoms! If you’re local, join Jill on May 2nd for a Moms Night Out event. If you are local, RSVP today!
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A year ago, I knew nothing about the need for diapers. Frankly, I’m still learning about the true need and how it affects individuals on a daily basis. Being very fortunate myself in life it is often times hard to wrap my head around. For the past 15 years I’ve always wanted to “help out” in some way….you know “give back” because I have been fortunate and lucky. As I would approach things or start to investigate volunteer opportunities here and there I would become overwhelmed and always had that nagging feeling that this particular thing isn’t going to “really” make a difference. Realistically I do know that every little bit helps, no matter how small. This was just an excuse to put it off a little longer. Frankly it was fear. Fear is our worst enemy. It holds us back from trying new things, from living, from taking those leaps that make life more exciting.
About 6 months ago I got an email “why don’t you throw some energy at a diaper drive for me. Check out HelpAMotherOut.org”. This came from a friend of mine who runs a non-profit called Give What You Got that supports kids in the foster care system. Diaper Drive – this struck a chord. I checked out HAMO and WOW! Loved it!
I was hooked. Forget diaper drive, let’s make this a diaper program modeled on others around the country. I immediately began emailing HAMO, Southern Diaper Bank of Arizona and others to beg, borrow and steal materials to start our own Diaper program right here in Kansas City, Missouri.
Our first drive was last November. 7000 Diaper in 7 Days and we raised over 14,000 Diapers thanks to 7 children’s stores spreading the word and collecting diapers. We are currently holding a drive to raise awareness for National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Did you know you can relate child abuse to Diapers? Babies in wet/soiled diapers to long tend to be crying babies, crying babies are more likely to be abused by an already stressed out caregiver. We hope to have 50 people each raise 1000 diapers in April. That’s 50 people, 50,000 Daipers!
We have had a 13 year old girl raise 3000 Diapers for her bat mitzvah. A mom sent out an email about our diaper program and that she wanted to come home to a full doorstep of diapers every night that week. It worked! Several school districts competed to raise the most diapers. One company hosts an annual quiz contest and this year’s cost of entry? A package of diapers. One dad, who is a cyclist, challenged other racers to bring diapers to a particular race. If a team besides his raised more diapers, he would race in a diaper! Luckily his team won. J Excited to see what’s next!
Want to challenge yourself? Step outside of your comfort zone and host a diaper drive! Learn a little something new not only about this cause, but about yourself.