Community-wide Diaper Drive kicks off, benefiting area families

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) - The Diaper Bank is a project of the Junior League of Eau Claire and through a partnership with Feed My People, JLEC collects and distributes a steady supply of free diapers to poor and low-income families living in Eau Claire and Chippewa Counties.

Last year, $39,000 in donations was raised with more than 21,000 diapers along with 6,000 wipes collected. Those were dispersed through Feed My People Food Bank and other pantries.

“The generosity of the Chippewa Valley in general is just huge, we have such big hearts here and last year it just blew us out of the water how supportive our community is and I can’t wait to see what our community can do again this year,” says Emily Cinquegrana, Junior League of Eau Claire President.

Andy Neborak, United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley Executive Director adds, “Monetary donations if we can take them as far as we can, that’s were the Diaper Bank comes in, working with Junior League, obviously we have Feed My People to help out with distribution, Festival Foods to be drop off locations and with those financial donations through Royal Credit Union that really allows for those diapers to be put to good use.”

“RCU’s core purpose is to create a positive impact in the lives we touch and what better way to come together, collaborate with some really great community organizations and make a difference for our youngest residents. It’s important for them to have clean, dry diapers and this campaign was a success last year and we’re looking forward to it being another success this year,” says Jennifer McHugh, Royal Credit Union’s Vice-president of Community Engagement.

Amanda Salwasser, Festival Foods Store Director adds, “We’ve got the drop boxes right by the exit doors so anybody coming through the register, if you want to pick up a pack of diapers or wipes you can drop them off in the bin on the way out or bring in your own from home.”

Feed My People Food Bank’s Susie Haugley says the Diaper Drive coinciding with Mother’s Day weekend is a great way to help mom’s with little one’s.

“Just a heartwarming thing to donate diapers and to know that is going to another mom in need and makes such a difference. Together we can make a big impact, every diaper donated will go far,” says Haugley.

Again, the Diaper Drive runs through Sunday, May 15th. You can buy or drop off diapers and wipes at any Festival Foods locations in Eau Claire or drop them off at the Royal Credit Union on Woodward Avenue in Chippewa Falls. You can also make a monetary donation at rcu.org/diaperdrive

CHIPPEWA VALLEY, Wis. (WEAU) -Diapers have always been expensive and the price just keeps going up.

This makes it difficult for many parents, especially ones living pay check to pay check; however WEAU 13 News is once again teaming up with the Junior League of Eau Claire, United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley, Feed My People Food Bank and several other community partners to host this year’s Diaper Drive.

Monetary donations from area businesses, amounting to nearly $18,000, have been collected in recent weeks, but Friday, May 6 the collection of diapers, and baby wipes begins!

“The community’s really generous we see that in numerous different ways, through all the various charitable causes in the Chippewa Valley and this is really no different,” says Andy Neborak, United Way of the Greater Chippewa Valley executive director. “You know people step up to help those young families in need and it’s a cause that’s very near and dear to a lot of people’s hearts.”

One in three families in our community struggles to afford the vital newborn items, with an adequate supply of diapers costing families close to or more than $100 per month.

The Diaper Bank is a project of the Junior League of Eau Claire and through a partnership with Feed My People, JLEC collects and distributes a steady supply of free diapers to poor and low-income families living in Eau Claire and Chippewa Counties.

“Last year we were able to bring about eight months worth of diapers, just under 300,000 to the Chippewa Valley and we’re hoping, to match that or do better,” says Emily Cinquegrana, Junior League of Eau Claire president. “We have such big hearts here and last year just blew us out of the water, how supportive our community really is, and I can’t wait to see what our community can do again this year”

The Diaper Drive will run through May 15. You can drop off diaper donations and baby wipes to any Eau Claire Festival Foods location as well as the RCU located on Woodward Ave. in Chippewa Falls.

Monetary donations can also be made by heading to RCU.org/diaperdrive

Copyright 2022 WEAU. All rights reserved.