Local health department hosts diaper drive to support families in need

September 24, 2024

Brooklyn Kent,

JACKSON, Tenn. — Now until Friday, September 27 marks an important week that can help families in need.

The Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department is having their first ever diaper drop off. All donations go to families in their CHANT program.

“So this week, diapers of any size can be dropped off here at the health department. As you can see it’s just an easy curbside drop off so no need to get out of your car even. These diapers will be going to local families,” said Ginger Rowsey, public information officer for the Jackson-Madison County Regional Health Department.

In 2012, the National Diaper Bank Network established Diaper Need Awareness Week to bring awareness to the need of diapers in the United States.

“We define diaper need as a lack of sufficient supply to keep babies clean and dry. Babies who families experience diaper need may have diaper rashes, urinary tract infections, may need more trips to the doctor. Also parents who do not have enough diapers for their children,” said Rowsey.

According to the National Diaper Bank Network, currently one in two families with young children are in need of diapers.

“As many as 28% of those families who needed diapers were actually skipping meals, just to be able to afford diapers. So we see that diaper needs can be a public health concern,” said Rowsey.

Since the child’s health is affected with unsanitary diapers, this can also hurt the working parents ability to go to work.

“Can’t send their children to daycare because you need diapers to be able to go to daycare. If you don’t have daycare then those parents can’t go to work so we see this as both a health public health concern and an economic concern for families,” said Rowsey.

The health department’s CHANT program will be directly impacted by this weeks donation of diapers.

“The diapers that we are collecting today are going to those that are enrolled in our CHANT program and that can be families who are in TennCare, families with young children, families with children of special needs. There’s several different criteria, you can all up here to get information if you want to know more,” said Rowsey.

For families who are not in this program, no worry there is another opportunity to receive some baby essential items.

“Our community baby shower is scheduled for Saturday, October 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and it’s open to any mom, pregnant mom, or mom of a baby born after April 30. So, anybody is welcome to attend but you must reserve a spot,” said Rowsey.