Caring Closet seeks donations for “National Diaper Need Awareness Week” with Diaper Drive

Posted By: Jack Krampitz September 24, 2021

The Bristol Park Department’s Caring Closet has issued the following press release.

The City of Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services (BPRYCS) Department’s Caring Closet will recognize National Diaper Need Awareness Week (DNAW) from September 27 – October 3 with a Diaper Drive.

The Diaper Drive will kick off with a Donation Collection Event being held at the Mum Festival on Saturday, September 25, from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.. Donations can be dropped off at the BPRYCS table, in spot 79 located next to the Bracket Park North Main Street entrance.

For those who would like to donate but are unable to attend the Mum Festival, please drop off or ship unopened packages of diapers (all infant and toddler sizes and brands welcome), baby wipes, and hygiene products to the Youth and Community Services building at 51 High Street in Bristol, CT.

Additional opportunities to give to the Diaper Drive include donating to the Amazon online virtual diaper drive where diapers can be sent directly to the Caring Closet. The Caring Closet is also collecting monetary donations so that, for every $1 donated, the Caring Closet can purchase eight diapers to offset financial needs for local residents.

Current High Need Items Identified by the Caring Closet:
5T diapers
2T, 3T, & 4T diapers
Baby wipes
Baby body wash
Diaper rash cream
Nursing pads
Lanolin Nipple Cream for Breastfeeding

Diaper need is defined as the lack of a sufficient supply of diapers to keep an infant or child clean, dry, and healthy. Currently, diapers are not subsidized by federal or state assistance programs such as WIC and SNAP.

Lauren Kittle, who oversees the Caring Closet commented, “1 in 3 U.S. moms report suffering from Diaper Need, which impacts the physical, mental, and economic well-being of children and their families. Parents try to make do without diapers by stretching their supply, by leaving babies in dirty diapers longer, or by reusing diapers. Lack of diapers has a profound impact on families, including health risks like rashes and urinary tract infections for children and mental implications such as stress, anxiety, and depression for parents and children.”