RAPID CITY, SD – For this year’s Diaper Need Awareness Week, Volunteers of America Northern Rockies officials have set a goal to nearly double last year’s effort by collecting 20,000 Diapers, 10,000 diaper wipes and $3,000 in donations as part of the annual community diaper drive.
Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun is proclaiming September 14-20 as Diaper Need Awareness Week in Rapid City. For a 10th consecutive year, City Hall along with the Rapid City Public Library, Fire Station 1 and the Public Safety Building will serve as diaper collection points during Awareness Week.
The collections benefit Mommy’s Closet, which serves as a continuous collection point for diaper donations throughout the year and is designated as one of two diaper banks in South Dakota.
The diaper drive is an annual project undertaken by Volunteers of America Northern Rockies (VOA). Last September, more than 10,400 diapers and nearly 7,250 wipes were donated by residents during the community drive. Monetary donations provided by the public totaled $2,500. This year’s diaper drive organizers are hoping to double the collection numbers.
MAYOR SALAMUN ISSUES CHALLENGE
Mayor Salamun is challenging citizens to donate generously to the diaper drive during Awareness Week and throughout the year to diaper banks, diaper drives and organizations that distribute diapers to families in need in the community.
“Our community steps up each year in a big way each year for the annual Diaper Drive,” said Mayor Salamun. “Organizers have set big goals for this year’s drive and I’m encouraging the community to step up and stop by one of several collection points and drop off diapers. Let’s hit and surpass the goals!
“The donations of diapers serve a very real need for our low-income families, who cope daily with increased costs for most all items. The donations provide Mommy’s Closet with several months of diapers and supplies. Any relief, especially when it assists our youngest children, is welcomed.”
The following locations will serve as collection points for packaged or boxed children’s diapers and diaper wipes during Awareness Week beginning this Friday and continuing through Monday, September 21. The public is encouraged to drop off items in the pack-n-play portable playpens in the following lobby areas.
• City Hall: 300 Sixth Street
• Fire Station 1: 10 Main Street
• Public Safety Building: 300 Kansas City Street
• Rapid City Public Library, 610 Quincy Street
• Mommy’s Closet: facility at 111 New York Street (serves as an anytime collection location for diapers)
All sizes of children’s diapers will be accepted again during the drive, with an emphasis on size five diapers since young children remain in that size longer than other sizes. Check and cash donations will also be accepted.
Monetary donations can be mailed or dropped off to Mommy’s Closet at 111 New York Street, Rapid City, SD 57701. Rapid City’s Mommy’s Closet is one of two diaper banks in South Dakota, recognizing the importance of diapers in helping provide economic stability for families and distribute diapers to disadvantaged families.
WHAT IS DIAPER NEED?
Diaper need is defined as the condition of not having a sufficient supply of clean diapers to ensure infants and toddlers are clean, healthy and dry, and can adversely affect the health and welfare of infants, toddlers and their families. The average child will use approximately 2,500 to 3,000 diapers in their first year and more than 7,000 diapers before they are potty trained. The average infant requires about eight diaper changes per day during the first two years of life .
For many families, the cost of diapers can be as much as $80-$100 per month per child, especially impacting low-income families who cannot buy diapers with food stamps or WIC vouchers. Three in five parents miss school or work because they cannot afford diapers.
For more information about diaper need in the Rapid City community and information on places to donate, visit www.voanr.org/diapers .
