Northern Nevada Diaper Bank - Women and Children's Centre of the Sierra (WACCS)

Report on the Second Annual Northern Nevada Diaper Drive

The 2^nd Annual Northern Nevada Diaper Drive was held at WalMart Kietzke Lane on Sunday, 30^th August. At the inaugural diaper drive, 2008, over 12,000 diapers were collected, so the goal was to collect at least 20,000 this year.

But in spite of the great enthusiasm of volunteers and many donors, the drive did not make that goal.

The bad economy has hit Nevada very hard and supporting charities has become a real challenge for many people. Unfortunately, many families are struggling even to support themselves – which means even more need for the Northern Nevada Diaper Bank and other charities like it.

If you can possibly support Northern Nevada Diaper Bank, please call 348-9565 or send a donation to WACCS at 148 Vassar St. Reno 89502.

If every family in Reno-Sparks gave just one package of diapers, we could help every needy family for a whole year !!

New Picture.png

The Rollers Only car club showed up with many packages of diapers! Thank you to everyone who participated.

NORTHERN NEVADA DIAPER BANK acts as a free source of diapers and incontinence supplies for the most vulnerable members of our community – the very young and the elderly living in poverty. This invaluable community resource is run on a minimal budget It is staffed by volunteers and diapers are donated. We began with a "diaper drive" which collected almost 15,000 diapers. We have a few generous supporters who bring us supplies on a regular basis. We conduct "mini diaper drives" at schools and stores.

The Facts

A healthy change of diapers costs $ 80 - $ 100 per month - at any age
Full time work at minimum wage grosses $ 302 per month.
Social Security can be less than $ 700 per month
Northern Nevada Diaper Bank is the only reliable, consistent source of free diapers in this area
Day care centers will not take infants without an adequate supply of disposable diapers - limiting the ability of poor mothers to find work
A family living in a weekly motel has no facility for sanitising reusable diapers and adult diapers are not available in cloth.
One in FOUR children in this state lives in poverty.

The Impacts

The Disabled:

Many disabled children never outgrow the need for diapers
For school, jobs training or work, many disabled children and adults need diapers / incontinence supplies
Adding the cost of diapers to an already overstretched budget - with medical costs and no insurance - can be devastating to many families, even those earning otherwise adequate incomes

The Elderly:

15 - 20% of all adults over age 65 suffer some degree of incontinence
Elder abuse is more likely in a multi generational household facing the added stress of incontinence
Healthy but incontinent elders can become housebound if they cannot afford supplies, leading to loneliness, depression and increased need for assistance
programs such as Meals on Wheels
Incontinence is among the leading reasons for the elderly to be placed in nursing homes
Medicare does not provide incontinence supplies

The Very Young:

Parents too poor to afford disposable diapers often cannot work until their children are out of diapers. Childcare costs are subsidized but there are no subsidies for diapers
A normal infant uses up to 12 diapers per day. A normal toddler, 8 per day. But in a poor family, the child may stay in one soiled diaper all day or longer, leading to infection, skins disease or other health problems
A baby crying from staying in a soiled diaper is at greater risk of child abuse.

Bring a donation of diapers to our store at 148 Vassar St, Reno, 89502
Donate at a local Diaper Drive, held at various times and locations
Ask your school, church or place of work to hold a Diaper Drive - we will do all the work!
Send us a check! (We can buy really cheap!)