5 Ways To Minimize The Diaper Gap In Columbus
/1. No Child Wet Behind Diaper Drive & Fundraiser
When: Saturday May 13th
Where: Wolfe Park in Bexley
Time: 10 a.m
Why: Join other Columbus families kicking off Mothers Day weekend the right way. By helping others! There will be food trucks, face painting, fun kids activities, flowers for purchase, and raffles! Register using the link below and use code DIAPERBAGDIARIES for $5 off registration. Bring diapers to donate, run the 5k or the 1K Family run/walk with your children & stroller, and enjoy all the included activities at no extra cost!
https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Dublin/NoChildWetBehind5K
2. Can't make the event? Drop off diapers anyway!
We donated at Goldfish Swim School in Dublin!
3. Donate!
1 in 3 families cannot afford a sufficient diaper supply. Can you image having to decide between buying food / formula and buying diapers? When parents living in poverty have to make these decisions the consequences include reusing soiled diapers, leaving babies in their diapers too long, shaken babies who were inconsolable due to their diaper discomfort, infection, and ultimately death. The infant mortality rate in Franklin County is one of the highest and lack of access to diapers is a contributing factor. It contributes to stress, to disease, to post partum depression. As mothers and parents of this city the very least we can do is contribute some of our privilege to those in need. If not for the struggling parents, for the deserving babies. When you lighten the load of a family in need the healing spreads. The recipients that receive these diapers also receive information, support, and a community network. Once we break through the isolation of poverty we can help these parents find the resources they need to rise out of the cycle.
4. Volunteer!
The fundraiser event on May 13th still needs more volunteers!! You can even bring your children! Fill out for the form below to get in contact with Eryn from Columbus Kids Do Good and see where you can help.
The Columbus Diaper Coalition has many volunteer opportunities available. Are you a business? Consider doing a drive to see how many diapers your employees and customers can accumulate and then schedule a pick up!
5. Prayer and Compassion
I have heard many people blame the homeless and poor for being responsible for their own circumstances. You see a homeless person begging on the corner and you assume it's to buy drugs. Or a woman with multiple children using food stamps to buy groceries and you criticize her lack of birth control. The lack of compassion for others only adds more barriers in the community and laying blame has never helped or encouraged anyone into changing their circumstances.
“If any of your Israelite relatives fall into poverty and cannot support themselves, support them as you would a resident foreigner and allow them to live with you. Do not demand an advance or charge interest on the money you lend them. Instead, show your fear of God by letting them live with you as your relatives” (Leviticus 25:35-36 ).
"No, the kind of fasting I want calls you to free those who are wrongly imprisoned and to stop oppressing those who work for you. Treat them fairly and give them what they earn. I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. If you do these things, your salvation will come like the dawn. Yes, your healing will come quickly. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind” (Isaiah 58:6-8).
