Bolingbrook Church Gives Free Diapers To Struggling Families
BOLINGBROOK, IL — In order to help meet the most basic needs of the youngest members of the community, the New Life Lutheran Church in Bolingbrook will be donating diapers on Sunday, May 24, through its Diaper Depot initiative.
The program was started by United Way of Will County’s Women United, and they were interested in partnering with organizations in the area to start a diaper distribution network.
"Baby wellness items such as diapers, wipes, baby wash, diaper cream, and bottles are not covered by Women Infant Children. The idea is to fill the gap for these wellness items, which are necessary to provide a healthy start in life," said Susan Brown, leader of ministry and communication at the church.
New Life Lutheran Church answered the call to start a diaper location in September 2018. There are four locations in Will County but this is the only church and the only location that doesn't require a pre-approval process - such as income or proof of residency.
The ministry officially started in October 2018 and since then they have served as many as 65 families every second and fourth Sunday of the month. United Way provided the guidelines regarding distributing diapers.
"We bundle diapers, any size, into packages of 25. This is based on daycare centers requiring five diapers per day so for a five-day work week, families would need 25 diapers a week. Each family also receives one package of wipes," Brown said. "Normally, an adult would come into our building and visit the dedicated room to receive items needed. Due to the current situation with COVID-19, we have made adjustments to provide the product outside our building in the parking lot rather than cancel this ministry."
From 6-8 p.m. on Sunday, families are being asked to stay in their cars while volunteers take the orders, pack the bags and deliver to the vehicles. Orders can be handed through the window or placed on the ground for the driver to retrieve as well. All volunteers will be wearing masks and gloves.
Brown said United Way originally supplied all the diapers and wipes for all the locations. But the need has been greater than anticipated, and "we are always looking for ways to help supplement the products we receive."
While the church will not screen or qualify people in order to receive diapers, it will ask a few questions for data analysis like zip code, number of children, and if someone in the household is employed. According to Brown, Bolingbrook is the prominent zip code with about 80 percent of the families served, followed by Romeoville.
Among the families, 60 percent will receive two bundles of diapers as that is the maximum allowed by United Way, on account of having two children. Families with one child will be receiving one bundle each.
"We believe every young child deserves to be freshly diapered," Brown said. "During this unsettling time of COVID-19, it is even more important to help young families that may be facing additional financial burdens. "
The New Life Lutheran Church is helping the community in various ways during the pandemic, from organizing blood drives to volunteering at group homes for adults with special needs. To find out more about the initiatives and contribute, visit the Facebook page.
This article originally appeared on the Bolingbrook Patch
