The Antetokounmpo family, dozens of volunteers handed out diapers and food at Sunday's Milwaukee Diaper Mission distribution event

With one son on his shoulders and the other by his side, Giannis Antetokounmpo, his fiancée Mariah Riddlesprigger and their boys Liam and Maverick handed out essentials to local families in need on Milwaukee's southwest side Sunday.

They were among dozens of volunteers giving out diapers, wipes, food and more at a Milwaukee Diaper Mission drive-up distribution event hosted by Hayat Pharmacy, 807 W. Layton Ave.

"We wanted to put this event together so that we could support families with the essentials they need right before the holidays and give back to the community," said Meagan Johnson, who co-founded the Diaper Mission.

The event was the culmination of this year's BIG Give Back, an annual diaper and fund drive put on by the Charles Antetokounmpo Family Foundation to benefit MDM.

"I'm blessed to be able to provide my kids with meals and with diapers and with what they need," Riddlesprigger, who's on MDM's board of directors, told the Journal Sentinel. "I just want to help bless other people do the same thing. ... It's important to help other people just provide for their family and to take one worry off their plate."

Several organizations participated Sunday, including Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, as well as businesses, including Culver's.

There were 40,000 diapers to distribute, and enough food and children's pain reliever for 300 families.

How the distribution event worked

As a vehicle reached the front of the line, their first stop was Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin's tables full of food.

Each vehicle received a cardboard box of staples, like peanut butter, cans of soup and spaghetti sauce, as well as frozen chicken and bags of apples, potatoes and onions, according to Scott Marshall, FAEW's vice president of development and communications.

The volunteers at this booth were from Equitable Advisors and Physicians Realty Trust, both of which also helped underwrite the cost of the food being handed out, Marshall said.

The vehicle's next stop was the Diaper Mission's tent, where people could get diapers, sizes newborn through 6, pull-ups, sizes 2+ through 5+, as well as wipes.

MDM puts on between two and four distribution events, similar to Sunday's, yearly.

"It's our goal to provide a reliable source of diapers to our community, so these events really help us accomplish that," Johnson said.

MDM regularly distributes diapers to several local social service agencies that then give the supplies to their clients. The organization has distributed more than 1.3 million diapers into the community since its inception in 2020.

The vehicle's final stop was the Hayat Pharmacy booth, which was handing out bags with children's pain reliever and informational materials about the groups that participated in the event.

"We know the need is great," said Kristen Adams, Hayat's marketing director. "We want all of our babies and our families to be happy and healthy."

COVID and flu vaccines were also offered by Hayat.

Culver's was at the event, too, giving out $5 gift cards and free scoop tokens.

What the distribution event meant to the community

"It's restored hope in the community for us," said Jimeca Hopkins, a Milwaukee resident. "We know that someone cares."

She attended the event on behalf of three of her grandchildren — ages 1 year, 3 months and 5 days old. And, her sister, Selena Beard, was there for her 1-year-old son.

On top of diapers and food, families are faced with even more expenses around the holidays, Hopkins and Beard expressed. They planned to use the money they saved through the event on toys for the kids or on a family outing they could all do together.

Angela Fabila, a first-time mom with a 1-month old daughter, said the event is helping her family out "a lot" ahead of the holidays.

"It's like the nicest gestures you can do," Fabila said. "It's the little things, but the little things count. And, they make bigger impacts on people that don't have it or really, really need it."

"It's hard times right now," added Renee Hammer, Fabila's mother-in-law.

While Riddlesprigger has been a passionate supporter of MDM for years, this was her first time at one of the organization's distribution events.

"Seeing this turnout and how it impacts the community, and what we're doing and how it impacts the community is just amazing," she said.

"Overall, today was a blessed Sunday because these people came out," Hopkins said. "And I appreciate them. And, I hope the community supports them so they can continue to bless others in their mission."

How you can help support Milwaukee Diaper Mission

For ways to support Milwaukee Diaper Mission, visit milwaukeediapermission.org/ways-to-help.

"Every little bit matters, every little bit counts," Johnson said. "And, that will help us reach our goal of ending diaper need in Milwaukee."

If you're in need of diapers

If you're in need of diapers, visit milwaukeediapermission.org/our-partners.

"There should be no fear or shame in coming out and asking for help," Riddlesprigger said. "These are basic needs that people shouldn't be ashamed to ask for help with."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mariah help at Milwaukee Diaper Mission event