More families struggle to afford diapers during pandemic, diaper banks offer some relief

Since the pandemic started, more families are struggling to afford diapers, and resources known as diaper banks see that growing strain firsthand.

IN THE PANDEMIC...DIAPERS CANBE A STRAIN ON A FAMILIESBUDGET--THOUSADS HAVE LOSTTHEIR JOBS---BUT THERE IS AWAY TO HELP.MARY JO OLA HASTHIS STORY.SINCE THE PANDEMICSTARTED...MORE FAMILIES ARESTRUGGLE TO AFFORD DIAPERS.RESOURCES KNOWN AS DIAPERBANKS...SEE THAT GROWINGSTRAIN...FIRSTHAND.: "If youneed to choose you're going tochoose food for your family."IT'S AN IMPOSSIBLECHOICE...THAT A RISING NUMBEROF FAMILIES FACE...SINCE THEARRIVAL OF COVID-19 "We saw ahuge increase.

The first monthof COVID we increased about100 clients because even theworking poor who reallywouldn't have alwaysqualified, qualified becausethey didn't have a job."MARGEVOIGHT...IS THE COORDINATORFOR THE BABYCARE DIAPER BANKOF THE SHEBOYGAN EVANGELICALFREE CHURCH.AS PART OF THENATIONAL DIAPER BANKNETWORK...THEY PROVIDE FREEDIAPERS FOR LOW-INCOMEFAMILIES.REFERRED CLIENTS CANCOME BY ONCE A MONTH ON ATHURSDAY TO STOCK UP.

"We havesome families start helpingthem who will actually usetake diapers when it's wettake it off, let it dry, andput it back on because theydon't have any other diapers."MANY CONSIDER DIAPERSESSENTIAL...BUT THE NETWORKREPORTS PREPANDEMIC...1 IN 3AMERICAN FAMILIES SAID THEYLACK A SUFFICIENT SUPPLY OFDIAPERS TO KEEP A CHILD CLEAN,DRY, AND HEALTHY.: "Diapersare certainly expensive andlimited budget so she sends mehere."ONE MAN...STOPPED BY FORHIS DAUGHTER'S KIDS.

"Jesussaid it's more blessed to givethan to receive and so Ibelieve the church will beblessed by their givingefforts and right now myfamily needs a little help."THIS LOCATION SERVES 50FAMILIES OR MORE EACH THURSDAY.: "It's more like a safety netbecause you know like you saida lot of people have losttheir jobs in this unfortunatepandemic but at the same timeit's nice to have somewherewhere you know that you canget the things that you need."THE RISING NEED ISN'T CONFINEDTO SHEBOYGAN.THE WALWORTHCOUNTY FOOD BANK...ALSOMANAGES A DIAPER BANK.2019...THEY PROVIDED DIAPERSFOR 250 FAMILIES.SINCEFEBRUARY 2020...THEY'VE ADDEDAN ADDITIONAL 100 FAMILIES.

"Ithink the ministry ofvolunteers is so vitalespecially now with theepidemic it just does yourheart good to see people whoare willing to go out of theirway."IF YOU'D LIKE TOHELP...DIAPER BANKS SAYMONETARY DONATIONS WORK BEST.IT ALLOWS THEM TO GET THESIZES THEY NEED...áANDPURCHASE DIAPERS AT A DISCOUNT.FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO REACHLOCAL DIAPER BANKS...HEAD TOTMJ4.COM AND CLICK ON THISSTORY.MJO TMJ4 NEWS.