Covering Weld Diaper Bank to pause direct distributions
Because of significant demand and limited resources, United Way of Weld County’s Covering Weld Diaper Bank is pausing direct distributions of diapers and diaper supplies to the public, likely until at least July 2023. Diapers are still available through Covering Weld partner agencies, a list of which can be found at www.unitedway-weld.org/diaper-bank-locations.
The Covering Weld Diaper Bank was founded in 2020 in response to the urgent need for diapers and other baby supplies brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting supply chain disruptions. The first stock of diapers was provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, kept in a storage unit and distributed directly to homes and by partner organizations.
In 2021, United Way received a $140,000 grant from the State of Colorado Department of Human Services through Senate Bill 21-027, which allowed for service expansion. Thanks to Weld County Department of Human Services, Covering Weld has increased the number of partner agencies in Weld County, which now numbers more than a dozen. Service to partner agencies will not change with this announcement.
In the final quarter of 2021, Covering Weld distributed over 46,000 diapers to 240 Weld County children, at a cost of about $30,000. In the last three months of 2022, the number of diapers distributed almost tripled to 132,837, supporting 1,630 children and costing nearly $51,000. However, for the 2022-2023 program year, United Way received only $75,000 from the State of Colorado while the cost of supplies and shipping have continued to rise.
“Demand has simply exceeded supply,” noted Amelia Ritchhart, family support coordinator for United Way of Weld County. “Ending direct public distributions has caused me loss of sleep. It was the last action that we wanted to take. But we have to be able to support our partner organizations, which is the more typical role of a diaper bank. Direct distributions were always something we knew couldn’t continue without interruption.”
The cost of supporting partner agencies is around $6,000 per month, while the cost of direct distributions has risen to over $12,000 per month. Direct support of families with children can resume when the diaper bank is again fully funded.
Caregivers experiencing diaper need should check the partner agency list to see if there is an organization listed with whom they already have a relationship. If you frequent an agency that is not already a Covering Weld partner, please encourage them to become a member, an action that would allow the organization to be a diaper distributor.
Diaper need is defined as the lack of resources to change a child’s diaper as often as is needed to keep them clean, dry and healthy. One-third of all caregivers of young children will experience diaper need at some time; no federal government programs provide assistance in purchasing these items. Many shared laundry facilities do not allow for the washing of cloth diapers in their machines, and the start-up costs of cloth diapering are prohibitive to many families. 95% of American families use disposable diapers.
If you, your place of work or worship, neighborhood or other community group would like to hold a Covering Weld Diaper Bank diaper drive or to make a cash donation so that diapers can be purchased in bulk at a significant discount, please contact Nicole Quinn, community engagement coordinator, at Nicole@UnitedWay-Weld.org or 970-353-4300.
