The Pima County Health Department is working to ensure a healthy bottom line, sponsoring a diaper drive
through the month of July to respond to a critical need for diapers throughout the community.
Our goal through the month of July is to collect 15,000 diapers for kids who really need them. Supply at the Diaper Bank of Southern Arizona is low in the summer due to fewer diaper drives, and they are particularly in need of diapers in larger sizes such as fours and fives.
The drive will culminate on Aug. 1 with our World Breastfeeding Awareness Fair at the Abrams Public Health Center, 3950 S. Country Club Road. New parents, expectant parents, caregivers, and children are invited to the event, which will feature dental screenings, a farmer’s market, early childhood development demonstrations and raffles and giveaways.
Diaper donations may be placed in collection receptacles in the Abrams lobby area through the month. The lobby is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Diapers can be a significant expense for families, given that 6 to 10 diapers are needed on an average day. Many families are forced to choose between diapers and meeting other basic needs, such as food and utilities. But leaving Baby in soiled diapers too long can lead to a host of problems, from diaper rash to infections and sleeplessness.
Public assistance for diapers is limited and the Diaper Bank was only able to meet 40 percent of the 1.5 million requests it received last year.
If you can help, we’re looking for 15,000 disposable diapers in unopened packages. Many laundry facilities don’t allow cloth diapers to be washed for sanitary reasons and most child-care facilities require disposable diapers for children to attend their programs.
A Healthy Pima County • Everyone. Everywhere. Everyday.