United Way of Weld County’s (UWWC) Promises for Children initiative helped coordinate and distribute essential baby supplies to area agencies on April 14 thanks to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). A total of 27,416 diapers, 5,508 pull-ups, 738 packages of wipes, and 1,200 cans of formula were handed out to seven agencies in Weld County, including UWWC’s direct service programs.
“These baby supplies are very timely,” said Jeannine Truswell, president and CEO of UWWC. “Our staff began to hear of this desperate need several weeks ago from both agencies and individual families. This comes at such a very important time.”
Due to the Statewide Feeding Task Force working through the Unified Coordination Group, Colorado received a $3 million delivery of infant supplies this week from FEMA that included:
- 8,200 cases of formula
- 23,260 packages of diapers
- 53,167 packages of diaper wipes
These essential supplies are going to families who are experiencing poverty and not able to find resources to meet their basic needs. The distribution of the supplies will be at 41 locations statewide at Colorado’s food banks, early childhood councils and family resource centers. These supplies will also be available to families enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and child care providers taking part in the Emergency Child Care Collaborative.
For a listing of statewide drop off locations of these baby supplies, go to: http://coloradoofficeofearlychildhood.force.com/oec/OEC_Resources?p=Resources&s=COVID-19&lang=en
Sheri Hannah-Ruh, director of UWWC’s Promises for Children, said Weld County will receive two FEMA orders – the one through the Weld County Food Bank that has already been distributed and the other through UWWC in the upcoming week.
Each FEMA order includes: diapers (sizes 1, 3 and pull-up sizes 4-5 T), formula (Enfamil Infant and Enfamil Gentlease) and wipes. The following Weld County agencies received items from the FEMA supplies.
- North Range Behavioral Health – Family Connects Programs
- Nurse Family Partners
- Envision
- Weld County DHS – foster and kinship programs
- Hope @ Miracle House
- Women Infant and Children (WIC)
- UWWC – family support programs, child care providers
Families in need of supplies should first contact their case worker/manager of the seven listed agencies. If they do not have a case manager, they should call Amelia Ritchhart at UWWC via text at (970) 515-3531, or by calling her direct office number (970) 304-6174.
Hannah-Ruh said to fill the sizes that FEMA isn’t providing, UWWC is in need of diapers sizes 4, 5, 6, 7; pull-ups sizes 2-3 T, as well as bleach, Lysol, disinfectant wipes, general cleaning supplies and children’s protective masks. Those supplies can be dropped off at UWWC, 814 9th St., Greeley, from 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please call (970) 353-4300 before dropping off the supplies.
