NORTH DENVER — The annual NW Denver Diaper Drive is running from May 1st through May 31st.  Run by the NW branch of the Rocky Mountain Diaper Depot (RMDD), this drive is in its third year of collecting donated diapers, pull-ups and wipes, which will be donated to non-profit organizations in the North Denver-metro area such as Bienvenidos Food Bank.

Having a sufficient supply of diapers is essential for the health and well-being of babies and young toddlers, but one out of three families face diaper need at some point.  “When you think about it, it is easy to see how affording diapers can be difficult for someone trying to keep their head above water financially,” said says Lindsey Zaback, one of the organizers of the diaper drive. “Diapers cost approximately $ 80 a month per baby.  Buying cheaper diapers online requires a credit card.  Buying in bulk at a warehouse store such as Costco requires a membership, transportation and a stable housing situation with storage space.  Low-income families end up paying more for their child’s diapers than upper and middle-class families do.”

Since government safety net programs such as SNAP (food stamps), WIC program and Medicaid cannot be used to purchase diapers, non-profit organizations that work with low-income families are often the only resources parents have to obtain diapers if they otherwise can’t afford them.  The goal of the NW Denver diaper drive is to provide these organizations with the diapers their clients need so they, in turn, can focus on their own missions.

Greg Pratt, director of Bienvenidos Food Bank noted, “Recently a young mom with twins came to our food bank.  She works but still struggles to make ends meet and needed help with groceries.  She was thrilled to learn that she could also receive diapers for both her twins every week while here shopping for food.  The diapers we receive all year long from the NW Denver Diaper Drive have been a huge help for the young moms and dads we serve!”

Many local businesses and organizations in NW Denver (and one in Stapleton!) are eagerly participating in the drive as donation drop-off sites.  Donations can be dropped off at the RMDD’s donation boxes located at Bookbar, Children’s Corner Learning Center, Second Star to the Right, Music Together, Highlands Lutheran Church, Brown Elementary, Edison Valdez Elementary, Smiley Library, Rodolfo Corky Gonzales Library, Wheat Ridge Library, Woodbury Library, Wheat Ridge Learning Academy, Wheat Ridge Recreation Center and Stapleton Children’s Dentistry.  All sizes are welcome, but the highest demand is for diapers sizes 4, 5 and 6.  Diapers may also be donated through RMDD’s baby registry on Amazon (search Northwest Denver Diaper under baby registry).  Special thanks to the drive’s sponsors, Sam Barnes Realty, Berkeley Untapped, Soma Rhythm Therapeutic Massage and Colorado Allergy and Asthma Centers.

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