The Wilton Family Y is hosting a diaper drive all week, beginning Monday, Jan. 6. They are asking members of the community to donate packages of newborn- through toddler-size diapers. The diapers will be distributed  to low income families in our area by the Community Action Center of Danbury, the Domestic Violence Crisis Center, and Person-to-Person.

The collection point is right in the Wilton Y lobby.

The diaper drive is the brainchild of two longtime Wilton residents, Genia Meinhold and Jane Alexander. GOOD Morning Wilton profiled the friends in November as part of our “Season of Giving” series.

Growing out of their friendship and mutual dedication to giving back to the community, Genia Meinhold and Jane Alexander started the grassroots effort when they learned that families who receive aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can’t use that to pay for diapers or wipes.

“I was flabbergasted. I had no idea that the food stamp program didn’t cover diapers,” Meinhold said. “Think of it. The thing that really got me was that people reuse a diaper. Remember when your kids had diaper rash, how bad it was? These kids get horrible, horrible infections, and they have no choice. It’s heartbreaking. And you can’t wash cloth diapers at a laundromat and most people don’t have washers at their houses. It eliminates daycare, because they can’t use cloth diapers, and daycare requires disposable diapers.”

Alexander added, “If you can’t afford to buy diapers, you can’t send your child to daycare, you can’t work. It’s a vicious cycle. What do you choose? Diapers? Food? Medicine? They’re caught.”

In addition to the fact that diapers are not covered on food stamp or other supplement programs, the women and the Y cited other reasons why the diaper drive is critical:

  • diapers are not consistently available at food pantries
  • prices at small neighborhood stores for diapers and wipes are very high
  • reusing diapers results in unsanitary, unhealthy and uncomfortable conditions
  • children cannot participate in day care or preschool programs without a supply of clean  diapers

Karen Strickland, development director for the Wilton Y, explained that the Y was eager to participate and host the weeklong effort.

“As a youth-serving organization, the Y is most willing to do whatever we can to support community efforts that improve the health and well being of children. We have more Y members under the age of 18 than we do adults, so there is a very high awareness of issues affecting ages infant through teens. Jane and Genia are long time Y supporters, so we are happy to be able to help them with their worthy cause.”

Anyone able to make donations of diapers and wipes can bring them to the collection bin in the Y lobby during the week of Jan. 6. Any questions can be directed to the diaper drive coordinators, Jane Alexander jane@nodhill.net or Genia Meinhold, Meinhold@optonline.net.