CHIPS parents helping other young parents

Vol. 15, Issue 4, The Leduc-Wetaskiwin Pipestone Flyer

Diaper Drive 2011

They are messy, most often smelly and often require you to get up in the middle of the night or interrupt planned activities. But they are very important to young parents and their children.

Yes, we are talking diapers. Lots of diapers. In fact, KidsGrowth.com states that in the first year an average child will use approximately 2800 diapers and based on an average cost of $0.20 per diaper, it will cost approximately $560.00 to keep that baby’s bottom dry, comfortable and free of rashes for a year.

KidsGrowth goes on to say babies need to have their diapers changed five to ten or times a day. If not changed regularly, the baby will get a painful skin irritation, commonly referred to as a diaper rash. Unfortunately, many young families simply do not have the resources to keep up with the demand for frequent changes resulting in uncomfortable and unhappy babies and parents who are desperately trying to cope.

For the month of Feburary, 2011 CHIPS (Childrens Indoor Play Society) is hosting a local Diaper Drive. This month-long challenge is going out to the Wetaskiwin community as a way to gather much needed diapers for two of our most used communtiy organizations, NOW (Neighbours Outreach Wetaskiwin) and The Salvation Army. 

CHIPS kicking-off the campaign with $2000

Any quantity, and any size of diaper helps;  if you can’t afford to donate a whole case of diapers, maybe donate a portion of a case that you have already opened. CHIPS is donating $2000.00 toward buying diapers to  kick off this Diaper Drive and to help meet their goal of 25,000 diapers!

Susan Duncan, Diaper Drive event coodinator and Board member of CHIPS became committed to the campaign.  “When Huggies launched their ‘every little bottoms’ campaign, I caught a bit of a TV program that was talking about how some mothers have no choice but to leave their children in one diaper all day or rinse and reuse soiled diapers. As a mother, that got my attention, and that made me wonder what the need would be in my own community. After making a few calls to Salvation Army and NOW (Neighbours Outreach Wetaskiwin) I realized the need was far greater than I had ever imagined. Both organizations found it difficult to estimate how many diapers they would typically go though in a week because diapers and all baby supplies are in such demand that they go out as fast as they come in. These organizations often have to rely on monetary donations in order to fill the need which takes money away from some of their other areas (clothes, food etc.)”

Past President and now the Head of marketing and communications for CHIPS, Kim Meyer explained how they want to help.  “This is a brand new initiative to the Wetaskiwin community that is being spearheaded by CHIPS.” She went on to explain that when opportunities arise, CHIPS has stepped forward to help other people and groups in the community.

Susan stated the need is not limited to low income families.  “Although the bulk of the people benefiting will be lower end earners, you may be surprised to know that  there are many middle class neighbours that use the services of NOW and The Salvation Army, It’s not just young families and single moms benefiting from these programs.”

Susan concluded by saying, “When CHIPS set their goal of 25,000 diapers all we cared about was simply helping. As a country, as a community we are better off than we think, and if each family bought just one case of diapers for donation maybe we wouldn’t need to have these kinds of conversations. What I do know is that people get involved when they are educated about a problem, and it’s not okay to say ‘I didn’t know that was happening here’. Getting this problem out in to the public will relieve some of the strain put on families in need and allow them to get back into community and start living again. It was our goal that they will no longer have to stay at home because they don’t have a diaper change.”

Whether you look at this Diaper Drive as “Moms Helping Moms,”  Dads Helping Dads,” “Women Helping Women” or just “Neighbours Helping Neighbours,” you can feel good that you are simply helping! Please give generously.

Your diaper donations can be dropped off at the Drill Hall Mondays and Thursdays through February from 9:30 to 11:30 am, Curves 4910 48th Street, or to Susan Duncan (Event coodinator) at 217 Pine Crescent Wetaskiwin, anytime.  Your enthusiastic participation in this initiative will truly help to insure it’s success. For more information about CHIPS go to  www.chipswetaskiwin.com.

“CHIPS is unique in that it is a non-profit organization that has been a part of the Wetaskiwin community for 26 years,” explained Kim. “CHIPS provides a venue for the children and their parents to come and interact together, at the Drill Hall.

While the children learn playing and communication skills from each other, the program allows parents to congregate and visit together. We are open from 9:30 to 11:30 am every Monday and Thursday.”

Children range in age from newborns to kindergarten.