Brent Pitcock and Roy Trone, part of the Weatherization Team from Ozark Action, Inc. (OAI) provided transport so that the Focus on Babies Diaper Resource Center (DRC) could receive a donation of over 20,000 diapers from Diaper Bank of the Ozarks (DBO) in Springfield last week. “We’re very grateful for their help, especially in this time of higher rates of ‘diaper need’,” said organizers.
The Diaper Resource Center was organized in early 2015 with the mission: “To furnish local distributing agencies with diapers for at-risk, early childhood youth to enhance the families’ resources and improve their well-being.” DRC receives support as an affiliate of Diaper Bank of the Ozarks. In five years of operation, more than 147,000 disposable diapers have been donated by DRC to area agencies for distribution, while also making cloth diaper starter kits available. Current public distributing agencies include His Place House of Worship Diaper Ministry, Martha Vance Samaritan Outreach Center, and Christos House. Individuals with needs should contact those agencies directly with inquiries.
The cloth diaper loan program, begun in 2016, expands the efforts of the group. Starter kits are distributed to Howell County families. If interested, please phone Jessica Hatcher at the Howell County Health Department (417-256-7078).
Donations of disposable diapers can be dropped off at OAI, 710 E. Main St., West Plains, MO 65775, who are providing the Diaper Resource Center with warehouse space for diapers. Diapers can be left at OAI, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, all year long. Fiscal management, allowing for financial contributions to be tax-deductible, is provided by the Community Interagency Council.
Area churches, businesses, organizations, or individuals who wish to contribute toward addressing diaper need in our area may inquire at diaperresourcecenter@gmail.com, by phone to 417-256-6147, or by mail at P O Box 1773, West Plains, MO 65775. Presentations are available for groups on request. Check our Facebook page under Diaper-Resource-Center-West-Plains for updates.
Any Howell County group wishing to apply as a distributing agency should email or phone for an application.
