Inaugural Diaper Drive Helps Most Vulnerable

The Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center (EMCMHC) saw a need in the most vulnerable in our community, children. Diapers are one of the most basic needs for a family with a new baby and the cost doesn't go away until the child is potty trained. With the cost-of-living increasing, including the cost of diapers and supplies for diapering needs, it is hard for some families to provide these basic needs for their little ones.

In the community, there are no resources to offset diapers and diapering supplies costs, so Katrena Palmer, Montana Assertive Community Treatment (MACT) Team Lead, of EMCMHC, decided to help by putting on a community project hosted by Glasgow Albertsons and EMCMHC.

"Towards the end of October, several families had reached out in need of diapers. This isn't uncommon for someone struggling to reach out, diapers however are not something we have on hand unless there has been a donation," explained Palmer. "The look on a hardworking family's face in need of diapers shouldn't be of shame, we all have struggled at some point in some way."

Those interactions spurred a month-long Diaper Drive in partnership with Albertsons in November, starting on the 1st and ending on the 30th, where community members were asked to consider donating towards the most vulnerable in the community. Donations were provided by community members of all ages, either by purchasing brand new diapers or donating unopened packages their children had outgrown.

When the drive wrapped up, a total of 1,380 diapers and a large number of supplies for diapering needs were donated through the drive.

"We are deeply grateful for this community's support and the diapers donated are already providing health and hope to so many children and their families," Palmer told the Courier.

This was the first year of the drive, however there are hopes to continue in future years in order to meet the need of rising costs of diapers and their supplies. Palmer appreciates the County's continued support, stating "proving yet again we live in the best area and community to raise our children in."

If you missed the drive but would like to help, EMCMHC will continue to take donations by leaving any donations at the front desk and will distribute them to community families in need.