Mountains of diapers collected during annual Les Schwab drive

More than 96,000 diapers were collected in April during the 14th annual Les Schwab diaper drive.

Local Les Schwab Tire Centers, with help from area businesses and schools, leads the campaign each April during Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The drive benefits children and families in Marion and Polk counties and supports Family Building Blocks, which serves high-risk families. The nonprofit changes 50,000-plus diapers a year in its classrooms and distributes emergency diaper kits to parents.

Since the initiative was launched in 2010, nearly 450,000 diapers have been collected, including a record 108,397 last year. The official tally this year: 96,284.

Family Building Blocks leaders and supporters gathered Wednesday for delivery at Helen's Place, one of the organization's service sites. Later that day, they received a $10,844.38 check from a new business in town.

Killer Burger had pledged 50% of sales to the nonprofit during its soft opening and training week. The restaurant made the check presentation to Family Building Blocks the day of its grand opening.

Capi Lynn is a Senior Reporter for the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips to her at clynn@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6710. Follow her work on Twitter @CapiLynn and Facebook @CapiLynnSJ.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Les Schwab's Family Building Blocks collects diapers in April