Diaper donations: health department works to collect diapers for those in need
Keeping kids clean and healthy – that’s the goal of Southeast Idaho Public Health as it hosts a holiday diaper drive.
The goal is to collect at least $10,000 diapers for families in need. The diapers go to all eight counties in the southeast Idaho region.
No federal assistance programs pay for, or provide, diapers. Sometimes parents who can’t afford them, leave their children in the same one all day or longer, which can be a health risk. Parents who can’t afford diapers can’t leave their child at daycare to go to work or school.
“We definitely want to help babies keep dry and healthy,” said Maggie Mann, director of SEIPH. “If a baby is in the same diaper for a prolonged period of time, it can cause diaper rash and some real discomfort. If that gets exacerbated, it can end up causing infection and so we’re just hoping the community will step up and help babies be healthy.”
According to the health department, on average, an infant uses up to 12 diapers per day and toddlers up to eight per day.
The drive started Wednesday and will continue until the end of the month. Drop off locations are at SEIPH on Alvin Ricken Drive, Mountain View Events Center, and DL Evans Bank.
