Greenwich Hospital employees donated 3,240 diapers to Neighbor to Neighbor in Greenwich and the Carver Center in Port Chester, NY, as part of a Yale New Haven Health initiative to distribute thousands of diapers to families in need statewide. The Greenwich diaper drive was led by the hospital’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council.
Throughout the month of March, employees at Yale New Haven Health – Bridgeport, Greenwich, Lawrence + Memorial, Westerly and Yale New Haven hospitals – donated 17,850 diapers to be distributed to organizations throughout the communities they serve.
Diapers are a basic need for infants, babies, and toddlers. They are just as essential to their health and wellbeing as food and shelter. Nearly one in three families struggle to afford diapers to keep their babies clean, dry and healthy, according to the Diaper Bank of Connecticut.
“Our client families with young children and babies will warmly appreciate this most needed item, particularly during this time of high costs and inflation,” said Margaret Tjimos Goldberg, executive director of Neighbor to Neighbor. “We appreciate the support and contribution of diapers from Greenwich Hospital employees.”
“Port Chester residents count on Carver Center to get the help they need. Greenwich Hospital’s donation of diapers will be distributed through our food pantry, the Carver Market. They are truly helping us build brighter futures for local families,” said Anne Bradner, chief executive officer of the Carver Center.
Other donations included 3,600 diapers to the Center for Family Justice from Bridgeport Hospital; 2,995 diapers and 1,068 wipes to Thames Valley Council for Community Action/WIC from Lawrence + Memorial Hospital; 1,630 diapers to Jonnycake Center, Westerly, RI, and Pantry on the Lane, Bradford, RI from Westerly Hospital; 6,385 diapers, plus donations of more than $5,700 to purchase approximately 34,000 additional diapers to the Diaper Bank of CT from Bridgeport Hospital and Yale New Haven Hospital.
Parents often are forced to choose between paying for food or buying diapers, and the stress of a decision like that takes a toll on the entire family. According to the Diaper Bank, neither Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) nor the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) cover the cost of diapers.
Some parents have no choice but to leave their baby in a soiled diaper for extended periods or even reuse previously soiled diapers, which increases the risk of urinary tract infections, hepatitis and severe diaper rash.
