GREEN BAY – On Friday, Sept. 20, Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach issued a proclamation declaring the week of Sept. 23-29 as Diaper Need Awareness Week in Brown County.
“I want to bring attention and mobilize efforts to diminish diaper need,” said Streckenbach. “Diaper need is defined as the lack of a sufficient supply of diapers to keep a baby clean, dry and healthy. I also want to highlight the ongoing Brown County United Way Diaper Drive and encourage people to donate so they can help at-risk babies in our community.”
Diaper Need Awareness Week is an initiative created by the National Diaper Bank Network to assist individuals, health professionals, community groups and others to stimulate awareness of health issues related to diaper need.
“The need is real for many families in Brown County,” said Dan Wadle, Brown County community services liaison, and diaper drive coordinator. “Babies need up to 12 diapers a day, and toddlers about eight. Most childcare centers require parents to provide a day’s supply of disposable diapers. Without the community’s generous support, many local families cannot provide the diapers their kids need.”
Persons interested in contributing can do so either with money or diaper donations.
Financial donations can be given via the Brown County United Way website at browncountyunitedway.org and clicking on the “Help out” button on the homepage.
Diaper receptacle boxes are located at all Brown County Pomp’s Tire sites, Festival Foods stores and Brown County Library branches.
“We have seen the number of families in need of diaper donations increase significantly,” said Executive Director Paula Breese of Family & Childcare Resources of N.E.W. “It’s unfortunate that we have to turn families away when the donations are not able to keep up with the demand.”
The Brown County Diaper Drive runs through Sept. 30 and is co-sponsored by Brown County United Way and the Greater Green Bay Labor Council Community Services Committee.
This is the eighth year it has been held.
During that time, more than 600,000 diapers and baby care products have been donated.