Belleville Intelligencer e-edition

CDC Quinte aiming to collect 20K diapers for local families

BRIGID GOULEM

The Community Development Council of Quinte is launching its annual Diaper Drive event to help parents across the region as they grapple with the rising costs of products.

The “Fill a Dump Truck” diaper drive will take place on Wednesday, November 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Community Development Council office at 65 Station Street. Organizers are hoping to collect 20,000 diapers for the Good Baby Box Program.

The Good Baby Box program provides families in the region with a package of 20 diapers and 1 pack of wipes for only $6.50, with families in the region eligible for one box per week, per child. In addition to diapers, the program provides infant formula and medical supplies like iron supplements at a reduced cost.

In 2021, the program distributed almost 7,700 boxes to families across Hastings and Prince Edward County. According to GBB program coordinator Bev Heuving, in recent months, the program has seen rising demand.

“The numbers are starting to build, and some of that is the growth of the program, and rising inflation and the cost of gas and food. The program is just exploding and that's why this diaper drive is so significant in assisting the families that are using the program,” Heuving said in an interview with the Belleville Intelligencer.

While the program is open to all families, Heuving said that is largely working poor families who are accessing the good baby box.

“We know from conversations with community partners and regular users of the program that often the families are working poor, meaning they are working a minimum wage and just trying to keep their head above water,” she said.

For families that are already struggling to stay afloat, the shock of reduced wages during parental leave and the added cost of a new family member can be overwhelming.

“When a mom goes on mat leave, she's only receiving 52% of her wages. It's a shock. So using the program consistently for the first is a savings of about $1200 that families can put towards gas, hydro, rent, or mortgage payments. They can cover costs and still know that they are providing for their child,” Heuving said.

As families grapple with the rising costs of products, inflation and supply chain issues have also put a strain on the ability of the Community Development Council to provide diapers and baby supplies.

“The cost of a case of diapers has increased by $4. Formula has gone up in price, and now I'm experiencing huge supply issues in getting my hands on formula,” Heuving explained. “There's one particular brand of formula where I can't get any more until at least December 19. It's unacceptable, what do I tell parents? I am having to ration what I do have left.”

While the dump truck diaper drive will not help alleviate supply chain issues, Heuving says that if successful, it could provide a quarter of the needed diapers for the next year.

“We determined that 20,000 diapers would be a quarter of what I would need for a year, and we hope that we're successful and go beyond that because that will help alleviate some of the costs that we have in running the program,” Heuving said.

In addition to diaper donations, the Community Development Council of Quinte is also encouraging cash donations that can be put towards bulk purchasing diapers.

LOCAL

en-ca

2022-11-26T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-11-26T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://eeditionintelligencer.pressreader.com/article/281590949575574

Sun Media