Unsung Hero: Diaper BankCARBONDALE - Parents may not love changing diapers, but they know they're a necessity... one that doesn't come cheap. "Diapers can easily cost a hundred dollars per month, per kid," says Jane Swanson. In 2009, Jane read an article about measures low income families were taking to stretch the use of their diapers. "They might leave kids in a wet diaper longer, they might have to make a decision between purchasing diapers or purchasing food ad the end of the month when money is even tighter," Jane says. And diapers aren't covered through financial assistance programs like LINK and WIC, so Jane felt compelled to start a Diaper Bank. She collects financial donations from the community, buys the diapers, and stores them here in Carbonadale's First Presbyterian Church. But they don't stay on the shelves for long. "We're delivering to about 7 or 8 different agencies in town," says Jane. One of those agencies is Pregnancy Matters in Carbondale. The group offers a number of services and baby items to families who're struggling financially. "Right now the diaper bank helps us serve more than 400 families a year with diapers," says Pregnancy Matters Executive Director, Marsha Perfetti. "We couldn't do it without the generosity of Jane and the diaper bank." Jane makes it happen while working full-time at SIU, and her only other volunteer is her husband- making the amount of diapers distributed all the more impressive. They've given 70,000 in a little over two years. "She's got a heart of gold. She cares about the community, she cares about families, and she cares about children in the area," says Marsha. "It has been really a blessing to see how this has grown, and how much impact we've been able to have," says Jane. "Especially for those agencies, those social workers, or whoever is actually seeing clients." For details on how to contribe to the Diaper Bank, or benefit from donations, check the organization's website. |
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