Great Northern Corporation (GNC) is seeking donations to establish a Diaper Bank program to serve families in need in the Weed area with the longer term goal to expand to serve county wide. Specifically, donors may drop off any NEW cloth or disposable diapers in all sizes to the GNC offices at 780 S. Davis Avenue in Weed.
“This is a particular passion of mine,” says GNC program manager Crystal Aston. “We see families all the time through our many programs who are struggling to make ends meet to the point that children’s basic needs are often compromised. For many families, spending roughly $40-$60 a month on diapers is a daunting challenge. Some parents are forced to forgo employment or educational opportunities since many daycare programs will not accept children without a supply of disposable diapers.”
According to the National Diaper Bank network, diaper need is a silent crisis in the United States. The federal government makes very little provision to provide diapers to those in need. Federal benefits such as Food Stamps and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) cannot be spent on diapers. Diapers are a basic need for children, as essential to their health and well-being as food and shelter. Families unable to afford diapers are forced to choose between a range of undesirable alternatives that can severely impact the health and well-being of both their child and their household. Many families report that they cut back on basics such as food, utilities or child care in order to purchase diapers for their children.
GNC is a hub for food distribution in Siskiyou County – many residents are already familiar with Food Banks. Through this new Diaper Bank program, GNC hopes to find a way to raise awareness and find solutions to this problem in our rural county where according to the US Census, an estimated 24% of families here are living at or below the poverty line.
Drop off donations at GNC offices on Mon – Thursday between 9 AM and 4 PM or call GNC Program Manager, Crystal Aston at 938-4115 ext 126. Information about GNC and their programs and services is available on the web at gnc.corp.org.