ELGA Credit Union Diaper Drive Raises $61,000 and a Truck Full of Diapers
May 25, 2016
FENTON, MI (May 23, 2016) ELGA Credit Union held their annual ABC12 DIAPER DRIVE on May 6th 2016. The day long drive yielded 61k and a box truck full of diapers and wipes to benefit the Flint Diaper Bank. The money raised will purchase diapers at below cost prices. Recipients will not only receive diapers but water too.
Collection day brought out local heroes to lend a hand with collection. The Michigan State Police, the Genesee County Sheriffs department along with the Burton Police and Fire department were all present to lend a hand.
This years drive introduced two new programs that brought awareness and dollars to the event. "The DIMES for DIAPERS program was a huge success, bigger than we ever imagined for the first year" stated Cheryl Sclater of ELGA Credit Union. The challenge to collect dimes to win a pizza party from ELGA was taken on by four community school districts, all area Catholic Schools and one charter school. Together the schools raised $7715.26. Local hair salons rose to the challenge to be "BABY CHANGERS", the second new program introduced this year. The salons sold donation cards in the shape of diapers where clients could put their name on them and hang them in the salons. Together the salons raised $2540.00
Based on the data available, our community has approximately 4500 children age three and under living below the poverty level. Most Americans who have not faced this struggle personally are unaware the problem exists. Families unable to afford diapers are forced to choose from a variety of undesirable alternatives that can severely impact the health and well-being of their child. Many families report cutting back on basics such as food, utilities or child care in order to purchase diapers. Other families report leaving their children in soiled diapers for longer intervals than they normally would otherwise. Some even resort to cleaning out or drying soiled diapers and reusing them in order to meet their diaper needs. The federal government makes no provision to provide diapers to those in need. Federal benefits such as Food Stamps or special supplemental programs like WIC cannot be spent on diapers.
Through the collaborative efforts of ELGA Credit Union, ABC12 and the Flint Diaper Bank, together they are changing the lives of babies in the community.