The United Ways of Western Connecticut, Greater New Haven, and Coastal Fairfield County are partnering with The Diaper Bank to collect HALF A MILLION DIAPERS for lower income families in our 33 town region. Co-Chairs of this important effort are Healthy Baby Advocates Janice Gruendel,  Co-chair Early Childhood Education Cabinet, and Irene Cornish, Superintendent of Schools in Stratford.  We are committed to helping babies start life healthy and ready to learn.

The Need: 

As the cost of basic needs rises and unemployment worsens, many more families are facing the difficult choice between providing food and housing or diapers for their babies. In families that are struggling to make ends meet, babies often spend the entire day or longer in a single diaper. Without clean diapers, babies are too uncomfortable, and sometimes too unhealthy, to play and learn.  

Did You Know:

• An adequate monthly supply of diaper costs $100/month or more.
• Infants need up to 12 diapers and toddlers need up to 8 diapers each day!
• Diapers cannot be purchase with food stamps or WIC ( Women,Infants and Children.)
• Constant crying from being left in a dirty diaper for a prolonged time increases the likelihood of abuse.
• Dirty diapers increase the risk of health problems from skin diseases to hepatitis.

How You can Help:

• Diaper Collection bins will be located at various locations (info coming soon!). 
• Organize a Diaper Drive at your workplace (check the Toolkit for helpful resources.)
• Organize a Diaper Collection in your Neighborhood.
• Write your local state representatives and senators to change the Federal law to allow food stamps and WIC to be used for diapers.

QUESTIONS?

Within Northern Fairfield & Southern Litchfield, contact:
Stacy Schulman at sschulman@uwwesternct.org or (203) 792-5330

Within Stamford, contact:
Jennifer Toussaint at jtoussaint@uwwesternct.org or (203) 348-7711