Charlotte Behavioral Health Care hosts 2nd Annual Diaper Drive

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. - Sept. 25, 2013 - PRLog -- Providing diapers are so critical due to the fact that there is very little help or public resources that address this issue. For example, food assistance programs, like food stamps, focus solely on food and nutrition and do not cover diapers. There are no federal assistance programs that pay for or provide diapers. Not WIC, Food Stamps or Medicare. Non-profit organizations such as Charlotte County Healthy Start Coalition work with families and individuals in crisis and are constantly listing diapers as an ongoing and top priority.

An average infant uses up to 12 diapers per day, a toddler up to 8 per day. But in low income houses, a baby may be in a single diaper all day or longer. The cost of diapers for a young child can reach upwards of $100 per month, a stressful amount for vulnerable families living on the edge. Sometimes families have to choose between diapers and food or other essentials for their families.

From September 30^th -October 11^th, Charlotte Behavioral Health Care will hold the 2^nd Annual Diaper Drive to benefit low-income families in the local Healthy Start program. “Our goal this year was to collect 1,000 diapers in this 2 week drive”, says Jessica Boles, Director of Marketing at CBHC. “The diapers go out as quickly as they come in and hopefully in the future we can create some year-long partnerships with local business and organizations to help us really make a difference.”

The diapers donated from the diaper drive will benefit the several moms and infants still in diapers in the Charlotte County Healthy Start Program. The Charlotte County Healthy Start Coalition is a collaborative effort of Doctors, nurses and other area health care professionals that join together to evaluate each pregnancy to help expectant moms have healthier babies, reduce infant mortality and improve the overall health and development of Charlotte County children. Each mom-to-be and newborn is screened to determine the types of services they might need for baby’s HEALTHY START in life.

For more information on the diaper drive or to donate please call Jessica K. Boles, Director of Marketing, Charlotte Behavioral Health Care at 941-639-8300 ext. 275.