If you live in the Washington, DC metropolitan area and are looking for a volunteer activity that you can do with the kids, consider the DC Diaper Bank!
Many people do not realize that there are families out there that chose not to leave the house because they do not have fresh diapers or that wash, rinse, hang to dry and reuse disposable diapers. The fact remains that social programs like food stamps and the like do not consider diapers a necessity and thus do not subsidize their purchase for low income families, some that survive on $25 per week, including the cost of travel to work and/or baby sitter drop off.
DC’s Diaper Bank is one of few nationwide. It was founded by mom Corinne Cannon who worked for a non-profit and after having her son learned that she could not put 100% of her time to her boss and her son. While a stay at home mom, Cannon decided to channel her interest in helping those most in need in her community into an organization that has tripled in size and support over the years.
I attended an awareness event last month at the DC Diaper Bank on the invitation of my longtime friend Jessica McFadden , who runs the popular parenting blog sites A Parent in America and A Parent In Silver Spring. It was a great opportunity to learn more about this organization that I didn’t know existed previously.
The Bank occupies two side-by-side warehouses in Silver Spring, Maryland, a suburb right outside of DC. It houses over 1 million diapers and has child friendly spaces so parents who volunteer can bring little ones.
Pre-school to school aged kids can help and learn about the importance of being a good citizen. The center has one night a month dedicate to family bundling that includes play and work.
Teens and others attending schools where they need to get service hours can benefit from volunteering at a local diaper bank too.
The DC Diaper Bank’s distribution days are one of the most exciting and important days as that is when the Bank delivers over 100,000 diapers to over 30 organizations across the DC Metro area. They can help these groups fill their trucks with much needed diapers for the families that they serve.
As we get close to Holiday giving season, the Diaper Bank has teed up some opportunities for those who want to contribute to do so easily. It has launched several easy initiatives and campaigns:
The $12 Factor: Just $12 enables the DC Diaper Bank to buy almost 100 diapers, through discount suppliers, and keeps a baby freshly pampered for two weeks.
Sanitary napkins are a HUGE need for mothers, too, as when it comes down to choosing between diapering and feeding their baby and buying clean supplies for themselves, mothers always choose their babies.
Host a Diaper Drive for your social good project: Want to give back with your kids through your Scout troop, house of worship, child’s classroom or just coordinate an awesome family project? Host a diaper drive. DCDB gives you all the tools you need.
Do good and be good!
