In partnership with the Allied Foundation Diaper Bank, the region’s only diaper bank, Help Me Grow – Long Island recently donated over 100,000 diapers to struggling Long Island families. Even before the COVID-19 crisis, approximately one in three U.S. families experienced diaper need, a public health issue exacerbated by the growing economic crisis/unemployment caused by the pandemic.
The diapers are secured through the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN); as a recognized member of NDBN, a national nonprofit, The Allied Foundation Diaper Bank is given direct access to high-quality diapers needed to help keep all babies clean, dry and healthy in their communities. Diaper costs are supported by a grant from The JPB Foundation. This opportunity was made available by the Help Me Grow National Center to Help Me Grow – Long Island, an initiative overseen by Docs for Tots.
The Allied Foundation, a not-for-profit organization founded by Allied Physicians Group, based in Melville, has distributed 172,000 diapers to families in need in Suffolk, Nassau, Queens and Brooklyn since its inception in 2017. In all of 2019, the diaper bank distributed 45,000 diapers, but because of the unprecedented demand for diapers, today the program is on track to distribute more than 371,000 by September to help families in need.
“Infants require up to 12 diapers a day, toddlers about eight making the cost as much as $80 per month, per baby. Clean, dry diapers are critical for ensuring good health, to prevent illness and skin irritations. We are now seeing more parents struggling or simply unable to purchase diapers due to loss of employment or other hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Allied Foundation Executive Director Heather Edwards said.
“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, over 95 percent of the families that contact us need help with diapers,” said Melissa Passarelli, Director of Programs, Docs for Tots and Help Me Grow – Long Island Coordinator. “We have been working with our partners connecting families with diapers. This grant from the JPB Foundation allows us to get diapers into the hands of families who need them most.”
“As a pediatrician-led organization, we strongly support young children’s development. Diaper need is a serious need on Long Island. Thanks to the Allied Foundation, Long Island Cares and through Agency Partners, these diapers will leave the warehouse and be distributed to families in need all over Long Island,” said Dr. Elizabeth Isakson, Executive Director of Docs for Tots.
“The demand for diapers has always been high and it is not an item that is often donated. With the onset of COVID-19, people have been reusing diapers, which is unsanitary and unsafe especially during a time where babies are growing up in a as safe and as healthy an environment as possible,” said William “Billy” Gonyou, Community Events and Food Drive Manager for Long Island Cares. “Our partnership with the Allied Foundation, Help Me Grow-Long Island and Docs for Tots has helped us identify the need for diapers across Long Island and help those families that need them most.”
To learn more about the Allied Foundation and the Allied Diaper Bank of Long Island visit:https://alliedfoundation.org/give/donate-diapers/ or call (631) 386-4185. For additional information about Help Me Grow – Long Island, log on to www.docsfortots.org/help-me-grow-long-island or Docs for Tots, please visit www.docsfortots.org. For more information about LI Cares, please visit www.licares.org.
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