All across the county, hand-decorated donation boxes stand collecting diapers to be taken back to the WIC office at the Vermilion County Health Department and given to families in need.
When WIC Program Coordinator Quera Owens and her staff looked at the results of a recent needs assessment survey given to area WIC recipients, they were surprised to see how much need there was when it came to diapers.
“The majority of them said diapers were something they struggled to get. We didn’t know there was such a gap in the community,” Owens told the Commercial-News.
Though there are other organizations around the county that offer diapers, those organizations often have stipulations for who can receive them, Owens said.
“People know babies need diapers, but they don’t think about the cost and how much they use, and how much that can have a financial impact on people that are already struggling,” Owens said.
“So that’s something we wanted to start on first, just so the community can know that we’re listening and we do care for them,” she said. “We just wanted to get everybody to come together to bridge this gap of need.”
Owens and her staff reached out to several local organizations to invite them to participate and 12 responded, including Danville Public Library, the YMCA, Carle Hospital, County Market, OSF and Lakeview College of Nursing, to name a few.
The donation boxes were decorated by WIC staff members, who donated their time between shifts or on lunch breaks. Boxes were then placed at each participating organization, as well as county and city buildings.
The boxes are checked monthly, with any donations received going back to the WIC office to be assigned to recipients in need.
Though the diaper drive is operated through the health department, only WIC recipients qualify to receive diapers. When they come for their appointments, those in need receive diapers and wipes.
Ways to help
The WIC office is always coming up with new ways to keep the ongoing drive fresh in residents’ minds, Owens said, including a raffle taking place this month.
When people donate diapers and wipes to various county and city buildings and leave their name and contact information, they will be entered into a raffle to win a gift card at the end of the month.
People can also enter the raffle by scanning the QR code on the side of donation boxes and entering their information that way.
“It’s just a fun activity to get people involved and get them more motivated to donate,” Owens said.
There are other ways to help fill the need, including an Amazon wishlist which people can purchase from. Items purchased will automatically be sent to the WIC office for distribution.
The WIC office is also asking people to spread the word about the diaper bank drive by sharing their posts on social media.
“In Vermilion County, we take pride in looking out for one another,” Owens said. “Whether it’s lending a helping hand or supporting a local cause, we know that together, we can make a difference. With your help, we can ensure that no family in our community has to struggle to afford diapers.”