HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – It’s heartbreaking to know babies in our community don’t get a clean diaper when they need one. Prolonged time in a dirty diaper puts a baby at risk for health issues and increases stress in a family which could lead to abuse. You have the power to make a difference by helping a baby out.
Three years ago, WHNT News 19 and RocketCityMom.com started The Great Diaper Drive to help babies in need. There’s still a need in our community and we’re asking everyone who can to take action by donating to the Great Diaper Drive.
During our 2015 Great Diaper Drive, we collected 80,016 diapers and wipes. More than 57,000 came in on our Blitz Drive day.
We are collecting donations of disposable diapers and wipes for Manna House and Crisis Services of North Alabama. We’ve heard from some who feel that we should be collecting cloth diapers for these families. We are. But the truth of the matter is cloth diapers are not viable options for low income families. The reasons are many, including that many daycare facilities only accept disposables. However, at the heart (or bottom) of it all is a baby who needs a clean diaper.
Donations of cloth diapers will be given to the North Alabama Cloth Diaper Bank for distribution.
Our drive is from August 27 through September 11. You can make donations online directly to Manna House or Crisis Services of North Alabama, or drop off diapers and wipes at the following locations:
- Babies R Us, located at Bridge Street Town Centre, 6884 Governors West, Huntsville, AL 35806
- Costco, located at 1205 Memorial Parkway NW, Huntsville, AL 35801
- WHNT-TV, located at 200 Holmes Avenue, Huntsville AL 35801
- The Little Gym of Huntsville, 3030 S. Memorial Parkway a106, Huntsville AL 35801 (in the shopping center with Applebee’s and Talbots)
- Kidventure, 500 Lanier Road, Suite D, Madison, AL
- Posh Mommy & Baby Too! Located at 7755 Hwy. 72 West, Madison, AL
The sizes most needed are not newborn — instead, they are 3/4, 5/6 (sizes for older toddlers), pull-ups, overnight diapers, and diapers for older children.
Why we do this drive
WHNT News 19 and RocketCityMom.com launched The Great Diaper Drive in 2013, in the wake of newly published reports outlining the hardships many mothers and fathers face. Pediatrics, a prominent medical journal, published “Diaper Need And Its Impact On Child Health.” It was the first-ever peer-reviewed study to measure the psychological impact of not being able to afford diapers.
The study, by Yale researchers, found 30 percent of mothers have struggled to pay for diapers and more than 8 percent of low-income moms have reused soiled diapers on their children.
The study’s researchers also concluded diaper needs seriously impact maternal stress, child health and child development. Local organizations dedicated to helping low-income families told WHNT News 19 they’ve seen those struggles first-hand in the Tennessee Valley.
Diapers and wipes collected in the 2015 drive will be distributed by Manna House and Crisis Services of North Alabama. Both organizations serve those in need across the greater Huntsville-Decatur area. Here’s more information about why these agencies need your donations.
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