#strongertogether is not a trend that’s dying down anytime soon.
It represents significant community endeavors like the emerging Footprint Diaper Bank that aim to improve or contribute to the overall wellbeing of individuals’ lives.
Especially during times like the ones the world and nation is currently experiencing.
As one who has a bevy of experience in the social services arena, Greenville native and social worker Kiara Collier recognized the need for additional assistance when it comes to babies and expectant mothers.
This need is why she created the Footprints Diaper Bank.
Collier is collaborating with the Community Foundation of Washington County (CFWC) to establish the Footprint Diaper Bank Fund which will provide needed funding and resources to support at-risk and vulnerable mothers, expectant mothers and infants in Washington County through the provision of necessary items such as diapers, formula, diaper wipes, etc.
“We are so excited to be working hand-in-hand with Kiara Collier to establish the Footprint Diaper bank to serve this incredible need right here in our community!” CFWC executive director Terri Lane said.
Lane said in a statement, “The Footprint Diaper Bank will be collaborating with local and regional nonprofit organizations and faith-based institutions to ensure these desperately needed items are distributed to the families in greatest need, right here in Washington County.
Collier said she plans to also share information on a continuous basis with women in the area who need information about different beneficial resources.
“A lot of times I find that people are just unaware of what different resources are available in their communities. So, I decided to open up a diaper bank to add another resource to the Washington County area because I think there is definitely a need,” she explained.
Collier’s inspiration for the initiative came through her work as a social services professional.
She described her desire to help women in such a way was “natural.”
As to why establishing the bank is so important, Collier said, “I think it’s very important to help expectant mothers with the diaper need because a lot of times, mothers are depending on how many diapers they have left, and may leave the babies in the diaper longer, which would create rashes or infection and increase the medical cost if that mother and child don’t have insurance.”
She highlighted based off of the diaper need statistics, one in three families experience diaper needs.
“We want to fill the gap by making sure mothers simply have an ample supply of diapers to reduce the amount of stress a mother experiences,” she said. “It will also help to make sure she’s able to meet her family’s basic needs outside of worrying about whether or not her child has diapers to make it through payday.”
Collier will be working with the Delta Volunteer Hub, a CFWC entity, to aid in the receipt of donations and drop off venues.
She added they plan to host a monthly distribution by giving out a supplement of diapers.
“The supply of diapers we plan to give out won’t be enough for a whole month, but it will definitely get a mother through a week or two until she makes it to her pay day or until she’s able to buy her next supply of diapers,” Collier noted.
Those who would like to support the Footprint Diaper Bank Fund can do so by making a donation via the CFWC’s secure website, cfwashco.org. or by mailing a contribution to the Community Foundation of Washington County, P.O. Box 5910, Greenville, MS 38704.
All donations must be made out to the Community Foundation of Washington County with Footprint Diaper Bank Fund in the memo line.
Anyone who wishes to donate diapers or other supplies to the Footprint Diaper Bank should contact Marva Johnson, director of Delta Volunteer Hub, at 662 378-3141 or via email at mjohnson@cfwashco.org, for more information or to arrange a donation delivery.
