West Plains, MO – The Focus on Babies Diaper Resource Center – West Plains (DRC) is seeking the community’s help to replenish the supply of diapers it provides to local distributing agencies which in turn serve families who need diapers. While the need continues to rise, a spokesperson for DRC said its diaper inventory of some sizes is starting to run low and so are the organization’s funds.
The all-volunteer organization depends on contributions to help local families experiencing “diaper need,” the term used to describe the struggle that one in three families face in providing enough diapers each day to keep their babies clean and dry. Diaper banks, such as DRC, function as store houses for diapers like food bank warehouses do for food. Also like food banks, DRC relies on members of the community, churches, businesses and other organizations to hold diaper drives and diaper showers and to provide monetary and in-kind donations to sustain its supply. Because DRC can purchase diapers in bulk at steeply discounted prices, monetary contributions are the greatest need, but donations of diapers, especially sizes 5 and 6, are also welcome and much appreciated.
Area churches, businesses, organizations, or individuals who wish to contribute toward addressing diaper needs in our area may inquire at diaperresourcecenter@gmail.com, by phone to 417-256-6147 or by mail at PO Box 1773, West Plains, MO 65775. Donations of disposable diapers can be dropped off at Ozark Action Inc. (OAI), 710 E. Main St., West Plains, MO 65775, which provides DRC with warehouse space. Diapers can be left at OAI 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays. Fiscal management, allowing for financial contributions to be tax-deductible, is provided by Community Interagency Council. Checks should be made payable to Community Interagency Council with Diaper Resource Center on the notation line.
Officials with DRC say that there are many circumstances which can create diaper need, and whatever those circumstances are, they do not erase the fact that babies need clean and dry bottoms to stay healthy and happy. Despite the need, there are currently no federal or state programs which assist with the purchase of diapers. Because of that, DRC was organized in early 2015 with a mission “to furnish local distributing agencies with diapers for at-risk, early childhood youth to enhance the families’ resources and improve their well-being.”
In six years of operation, more than 180,000 disposable diapers have been donated by DRC to agencies for distribution to area families, with an additional fifty cloth diaper starter kits made available. Current agencies distributing to the public are: His Place House of Worship Diaper Ministry, Christos House Outreach Office, and Martha Vance Samaritan Outreach Center. Individuals with needs should contact those agencies directly with inquiries. Programs are also in place for pre-qualified clients of the WIC Program at Howell County Health Department and the Early Head Start program, and for foster families through the 37th Circuit Children’s Services and the Chaos Closet.
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 Dawn Hicks at the Howell County Health Department (417-256-7078).
Check the Facebook page “Diaper Resource Center – West Plains” for updates and more information. Any Howell County non-profit, church or charitable group wishing to apply as a distributing agency should email or phone for an application.
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