Author: kfcdev

Illinois (September 18)—Governor JB Pritzker has officially proclaimed the week of September 18 – September 24, 2023 as National Diaper Need Awareness Week, in the state of Illinois.

Seven nonprofit organizations across Illinois have joined forces and formed an Illinois Diaper Bank Coalition to bring awareness to unmet diaper need and advocate for families across our state. As part of his Proclamation, Governor Pritzker encourages the citizens of Illinois to donate generously to diaper banks, diaper drives, and organizations that collect and distribute diapers to families struggling with diaper need, so that all of Illinois’ children and families can thrive and reach their full potential.

Members of the National Diaper Bank Network include: Brightpoint, Bundled Blessings, Covered Bottoms, Cradles to Crayons, Loving Bottoms Diaper Bank, Keeping Families Covered, and Share Our Spare. These Illinois organizations work together to ensure that all babies have access to clean diapers and other basic necessities they need to thrive.

Diaper need is a public health crisis and defined as the lack of a sufficient amount of diapers to keep a baby clean, dry, and healthy. Children experiencing poverty are at greatest risk of suffering from the effects of diaper need—simply because many of these families cannot afford diapers.

Current public support programs help some, but young children have additional needs for building a strong foundation, healthy growth, and to reach their full potential. Several states have advocated with legislation to remove taxes on diapers to reduce the burden. Illinois is not one of those states.

In their joint effort to End Diaper Need, the Illinois Diaper Bank Coalition advocates for policy change in Illinois that will remove financial barriers families face when providing diapers. Additionally, in partnership with the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies, the Coalition has applied for federal funding that will support the purchase and distribution of diapers and supplies to families experiencing poverty.

“As families care for their children and babies, the last thing parents should have to worry about is whether or not they’ll have the diapers that are essential to the health and well-being of their children,” U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) said. ”During National Diaper Need Awareness Week, it’s critical to highlight this need that is still present for so many families, as well as the resources and support available. I’m proud to have helped secure a $10 million increase in funding for diaper banks, which builds upon my provisions in the American Rescue Plan. I’m proud of the work organizations the Illinois Diaper Bank Coalition continue to do to support parents, and I’ll keep doing what I can at the federal level to assist these efforts.”

Basics aren’t basic, they are as essential as food and housing for babies. New data shows that nearly 1 in 2 families in the US experience unmet diaper need, according to the National Diaper Bank Network, which affects their ability to nurture happy and healthy babies. This need also hinders their ability to go to work and school.

“Every baby in Illinois matters, and yet too many are left without the basic necessity of clean diapers,” said Lee Ann Porter, Loving Bottoms Founder and Executive Director. “While we’re proud to serve 12 counties in downstate Illinois, the reality is most of our state is still underserved in this critical area. Together with our partners in the Illinois Diaper Bank Coalition, we’re not just raising awareness; we’re advocating for real change so that every family, in every corner of our state, can focus on what really matters—the love and growth of their children.”

Unmet diaper need is cited as the number one mental health stressor for new parents as most government assistance programs do not cover diapers. Diapers can cost an average family $70 to $80 per month per child in diapers, which is equal to about 14% of the monthly income of families experiencing poverty.

“Cradles to Crayons is proud to be part of this essential partnership to address this critical need that has gone unmet for far too long across our state,” said Dawn Melchiorre, Cradles to Crayons Executive Director – Chicago. “In the past year, we’ve distributed nearly 8.5 million diapers across our Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia sites. By providing children (0-12) with the essentials they need to thrive—at home, at school and at play—C2C aims to make all children feel valued.”

Without diapers, babies cannot participate in early education programs, which inhibits many parents from going to work. In fact, a study conducted by the National Diaper Bank Network and Huggies found that parents who struggled with diaper need missed an average of four days of work per month. Unmet diaper need is so much more than a basic need, it has health, mental health and economic impacts.

Contacts:

Ann Marie Mathis, annmarie@keepingfamiliescovered.org

Founder & CEO, Keeping Families Covered – Waukegan, IL

Alex Goodfellow, alex@shareourspare.org

Executive Director, Share Our Spare – Chicago, IL

Dawn Melchiorre, dmelchiorre@cradlestocrayons.org

Executive Director, Cradles to Crayons – Chicago, IL

Eric Mayo, emayo@brightpoint.org

Public Policy Manager, Brightpoint – Chicago, IL

Lee Ann Porter, leeann@lovingbottoms.org

Founder & Executive Director, Loving Bottoms Diaper Bank – Galesburg, IL

Anita Hanke, diaperbankcbdb@gmail.com

Covered Bottoms Diaper Bank – Quincy, IL

Nancy Brown, bundledblessings@outlook.com

Bundled Blessings – Evanston, IL

By ABC7 Chicago Digital Team Wednesday, September 20, 2023

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (WLS) — Wednesday there’s an event in Waukegan to help families with a mobile diaper pantry. It’s part of National Diaper Need Awareness Week.

About one in two families struggle with diaper need with families spending about $800 a year in diapers.

Ann Marie Mathis with Keeping Families Covered joined ABC7 to talk about how common the struggle is, how it is a global problem and how people can help.

https://abc7chicago.com/diapers-national-diaper-need-awareness-week-mobile-pantry-keeping-people-covered-lake-county-illinois-waukegan-health-department-il-timely/13804107

The mobile diaper pantry will be held a the Lake County Health Department’s Belvidere Medical Building, 2400 Belvidere Rd in Waukegan from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Nonprofit plans events throughout week to shine spotlight on often-hidden consequence of poverty

By Shaw Local News Network

September 16, 2023 at 1:34 pm CDT Expand

WAUKEGAN – One in two U.S. families with young children struggle to provide enough diapers for their baby and during National Diaper Need Awareness Week (Sept. 18-24), Keeping Families Covered invites individuals, organizations, elected officials and others to learn about this growing public health issue and actions that can help end diaper need in our community.

According to The NDBN Diaper Check 2023: Diaper Insecurity Among U.S. Children and Families, 47% can’t afford the diapers they need to keep their children clean, dry and healthy. This is diaper need, an often-hidden consequence of poverty, which harms the physical, mental and economic well-being of children and families.

Recent national news reports show the average cost of diapers has increased 32% since 2019, which negatively impacts household budgets, particularly among low-wage earners and families living in poverty.

During National Diaper Need Awareness week, Keeping Families Covered is hosting events to educate the public about diaper need:

*Mayor Ann Taylor from the City of Waukegan will present a proclamation marking National Diaper Need Awareness Week to Keeping Families Covered founder and CEO Ann Marie Mathis at 7 p.m. Sept. 18 at City Hall, 100 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.

*The Keeping Families Covered mobile diaper pantry will be at the Lake County Health Department Belvidere Medical Building in Waukegan, 2400 Belvidere Road, on Sept. 20, for a drive-thru diaper distribution from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Families must be registered to receive diapers. Visit https://www.keepingfamiliescovered.org/get-help to register online and get more information about program/documentation requirements.

*Bottoms Up for Babies, the signature fundraiser for Keeping Families Covered, will be from 5 to 11 p.m. Sept. 23 at Exmoor Country Club in Highland Park. For event details and to buy tickets, go to https://bidpal.net/bottomsup2023.

Keeping Families Covered has been supplying diapers to families since 2014. Collaborating with community organizations in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin as well as through direct service, the nonprofit has distributed more than 6.3 million diapers. “We’re very proud of the work we’ve done,” Keeping Families Covered founder and CEO Ann Marie Mathis said in a news release. “But there is much more to do to address this growing need. It is important to raise awareness of this issue so that more people will commit to a solution. No child should ever miss out on access to early childhood education programs or become sick because their parents could not afford the diapers needed to change them.”

Supported by the National Diaper Bank Network, more than 225 community-based diaper banks throughout the country are working with individuals, community organizations and elected officials to help get free, clean diapers to babies. Throughout the week, many diaper banks are organizing communitywide diaper drives and fundraising campaigns that will help ensure the nonprofit remains a reliable source of diapers for children and families in their communities throughout the year.

“All families should have the diapers they require for their children,” said Joanne Goldblum, CEO and founder of NDBN. “National Diaper Need Awareness Week recognizes that small things affect big things. Diapers matter. And for families in need, diaper banks like Keeping Families Covered frequently provide the only resources available to help moms, dads, grandparents and other caregivers obtain the diapers needed to keep a child healthy.”

Visit https://www.keepingfamiliescovered.org/get-help to register online and get information about program/documentation requirements.

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/non-profit-strives-to-raise-awareness-about-period-poverty/?intcid=CNM-00-10abd1h

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/health/health-wellness-science-news/how-a-chicago-area-nonprofit-is-working-to-end-period-poverty/3147276

LAKE COUNTY JOURNAL – WAUKEGAN – One in four women struggle to afford period supplies because of a lack of income and 38% of low-income women report missing work, school or other events because of a lack of access to period supplies.

Keeping Families Covered, a nonprofit with locations in Waukegan and McHenry, provides these much-needed supplies to women (along with other essentials) and is working to raise awareness year-round and May 22-28 in honor of Period Poverty Awareness Week.

Nearly 68% of people agree that period poverty is a public health issue, yet only 4% of Americans are aware of a local resource where free or reduced cost period supplies are available. Keeping Families Covered supports 70 community partners and provides direct service to families via monthly mobile pantries in Gurnee, Grayslake, Waukegan, Round Lake Park, Highwood and Kenosha, Wisconsin. In addition to their presence in these communities, their team works tirelessly to support women and families by raising awareness about their programs and providing essentials to those who need them.

Keeping Families Covered relies on financial and product donations to serve the community and will be hosting a free event from 5 to 8 p.m. May 18 at Yorkhouse Tavern & Table in Wadsworth. The restaurant will donate 20% of food and beverage sales directly to Keeping Families Covered to support their period product program. The event will include red drink specials, raffles and live music. Keeping Families Covered representatives will be on hand to speak with attendees about how they can get involved in the organization’s work to #EndPeriodPoverty by hosting a period product drive, volunteering to pack period kits and more. Financial donations can be made at https://www.keepingfamiliescovered.org/donate.

A period product drive is being held this month in honor of Period Poverty Awareness Week, with donations of pads and tampons accepted at the Keeping Families Covered office in Waukegan. Donors can shop online via the organization’s Amazon and Target wish lists, which are available on the website, to have product donations shipped directly to the office.

To volunteer, host a drive, contribute financially or inquire about a sponsorship, visit www.keepingfamiliescovered.org.

NORTHWEST HERALD – Ann Marie Mathis started her first iteration of Waukegan-based Keeping Families Covered in her basement in 2010, focusing on gently used baby and children’s clothes, shoes and baby gear.

As more clients asked for diapers, in 2014 her focus changed and expanded, providing those to families while maintaining the clothes bank.

Now, Mathis and Keeping Families Covered has expanded again, taking over the site and operations of the Diaper Bank of Northern Illinois, located at 4138 W. Orleans St. in McHenry.

The Rev. Phyllis Mueller, a retired Presbyterian minister, started with the McHenry County diaper bank in 2009. In 2015, it expanded into a donated location. Then, last year, Mueller was considering retirement from the nonprofit when she asked Mathis to take over.

“I’m so excited for Ann Marie and her team and very confident they will ensure this operation goes forward into the future and continues to serve all those in need, both children and adults,” Mueller said in a prepared statement.

The two first met in 2015 at a national conference for diaper banks, Mathis said.

“I met her riding in an elevator in Seattle. We had no idea we were both diaper bankers in northern Illinois” in neighboring counties, Mathis said.

The two stayed in contact over the years.

“(Mueller’s operation) was much larger. I had only been part of the network for a year, and I was buying most of the diapers myself at that point,” Mathis said.

Since that first meeting, the two groups and their leaders shared resources and contacts while learning from each other.

“She … has really focused on identifying gaps in the services that exist in the community,” Mathis said.

While diapers are the focus of both groups, they each expanded in different directions as they determined what their communities needed.

For example, the McHenry diaper bank began providing adult incontinence products. Now, adult products are about 30% of the McHenry agency’s distribution.

Keeping Families Covered only started offering those in summer 2021.

“The addition of this site and this community will help the adult program trend upward,” Mathis said.

Keeping Families Covered also began offering period products to its clients, while continuing to provide shoes, clothes, baby gear, books and baby formula.

Mathis hopes to add period products to the McHenry location by the end of the year.

“I am making sure the programs meet the needs,” she said. “You shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to get diapers or period products.”

It is her plan to fully integrate the two programs, but McHenry diaper bank clients will not see wholesale changes in how diapers are provided. The same volunteers will stay at both sites.

“I don’t want to disrupt their process at all. People have been relying on support from this organization for years,” Mathis said.

Her organization will continue to work with 17 programs across the county, including school districts, food pantries and senior services, to get adult products and baby diapers to clients.

The McHenry location will also continue to open its doors from 10 a.m. to noon the first three Wednesdays of the month, as well as operate existing mobile services, bringing the diapers to where they are needed.

“(T)hose in need can be certain they will continue to receive help with children’s diapers and adult products,” through Mathis and her group, Mueller said in an email to the Northwest Herald.

“The well-being of every person is important to Keeping Families Covered. I am very confident in the future of the vital services we have provided over the years,” Mueller said.

Mathis noted that there are no federal or state programs or grants to provide diapers, including through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or the Women, Infants and Children programs.

Much of Mathis’s funding comes from private grants, while Mueller relied almost entirely on private donations.

“My hope is, that as I start to learn the area, I can connect with the partners – churches, chambers of commerce, community organizations – and that will start to open some doors and allow me to connect with the right people,” Mathis said.

For information about the programs, go to keepingfamiliescovered.org/donate.

Opening additional warehouse/distribution center to address diaper need and period poverty to reach even more children in 2023 and beyond

MCHENRY, IL (JANUARY 2023) –After over two years living in the midst of a pandemic with an exponentially increased demand for its services, Keeping Families Covered is expanding into McHenry County, with a second warehouse located at 4138 W. Orleans Street. This new facility will join the original Waukegan based warehouse that served nearly 13,000 families (17,859 children) in 2022 alone, with the goal of making an even bigger impact in 2023. With over 1.2 million diapers already being distributed annually, this expansion means at least 500,000 more diapers will be distributed this year.

Founded in 2010, Keeping Families Covered provides diapers, period products and incontinence products to those in need. They also provide other essentials including baby wipes, infant formula, new/gently used maternity wear and children’s clothing/shoes (birth to youth size 12), new baby care equipment and children’s books. When it comes to simple necessities including diapers and menstrual products, one in three mothers cut back on basic essentials to afford diapers for their children and two-thirds of the 16.9 million low-income women in the US could not afford menstrual products in the past year, with a half of this needing to choose between menstrual products and food. With this increased warehouse space in McHenry Country, Keeping Families Covered will now be equipped to serve thousands more, vastly increasing their reach and impact.

Keeping Families Covered is taking over this space previously occupied by The Diaper Bank of Northern Illinois, one of the first National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) members. This facility was overseen by Executive Director, Phyllis Mueller and per Ann Marie Mathis, Founder & CEO of Keeping Families Covered, “I have big shoes to fill but I’m up for the challenge. I am fortunate to have an amazing team that is dedicated to our mission and supports my vision for this organization. We all look forward to serving the McHenry County community.”

Mathis adds, “Phyllis created an incredible operation. It’s an honor to take over the reins to further her important work and build upon her legacy.”

“We were only one of only five diaper banks in the nation when we founded The Diaper Bank of Northern Illinois in 2010, and the only one in Illinois,” says Phyllis Mueller. “I’m so excited for Ann Marie and her team and very confident they will ensure this operation goes forward into the future and continues to serve all those in need, both children and adults.”

“Phyllis and The Diaper Bank of Northern Illinois were among the initial members of National Diaper Bank Network which launched in 2011,” says CEO & Founder Joanne Samuel Goldblum. “This positive transition demonstrates the Network’s strength and how members band together to support one another and the families they serve.”

Diaper banks are trusted resources in their respective communities. Each requires ongoing support and donations of dollars, diapers and time in order to help children and families who are struggling.

Goldblum adds, “When key diaper bank leaders like Phyllis retire, it’s vital that the years of commitment, legacy and trusted service endure. We’re confident that under Ann Marie’s leadership, Keeping Families Covered will expand Phyllis’s legacy, and ensure that all McHenry County residents have access to the material basic necessities they require to thrive.”

The McHenry site was 100% volunteer-driven and many of those volunteers will be joining Keeping Families Covered. They will work onsite packing orders for 20 community partners, maintaining inventory and directly servicing families. In Lake County, Keeping Families Covered supports 50 community partners and provides direct service to families via monthly mobile diaper pantries in Gurnee, Grayslake, Waukegan, Round Lake Park, Highwood and Kenosha, Wisconsin. The expansion will double the organization’s geographic footprint and create additional opportunities for growth.

“After I lost my job, I was embarrassed to ask for help and felt judged by so many people and organizations that were supposed to help,” says Billie Lovelace, former client. “What I love about Keeping Families Covered is that when I needed assistance, I could go directly through them and with Ann Marie, I was helped with zero judgment. Ann Marie and her team always treated me with grace and respect, making sure that my family was taken care of.”

“As we move into 2023 with this expansion at the helm, I know that this will open up a greater opportunity for funding support and operational growth,” says Mathis. “Our main goal for McHenry is to bring their orders back up to 100% fulfillment and then build upon both our partner base and the number of families we can serve. We will continue to focus on identifying gaps in service that exist in the communities we serve and meeting people where they are to offer support so we can thrive together.”

ABOUT KEEPING FAMILIES COVERED

With a mission to eliminate the barriers that exist to access basic human needs for the most vulnerable residents in the community, Keeping Families Covered provides diapers, period products and incontinence products to those in need. They also provide other essentials including baby wipes, infant formula, new/gently used maternity wear and children’s clothing/shoes (birth to youth size 12), new baby care equipment and children’s books.

What began as a small operation out of Founder Ann Marie Mathis’s basement, Keeping Families Covered now has warehouses in Lake and McHenry Counties, supporting thousands of families with the basics they need to thrive and reach their full potential.

To volunteer, host a drive, contribute financially or inquire about sponsorship visit www.keepingfamiliescovered.org.

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Annual holiday drive runs from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, aims to collect more than 50,000 diapers

WAUKEGAN – LAKE COUNTY JOURNAL – Atturo Tire Corp. again is partnering with Keeping Families Covered and tapping its network of dealers to collect donations for the annual “Huggies for the Holidays” diaper drive. The diaper drive will directly benefit the local community in which Atturo Tire Corp. and its dealers reside. The drive runs through Dec. 31 and aims to collect more than 50,000 diapers this year.

“We have been doing some version of a holiday drive since 2017, and while it has gone by many names, our goal remains the same – to help as many families as possible in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin by providing them with the diapers they need to keep their children clean, dry and healthy. Diaper need affects 1 in 3 families and we are working to change that by helping to fill the gap for those who struggle to afford this basic need,” said Ann Marie Mathis, founder and CEO of Keeping Families Covered. “We currently buy 80% of the over 1 million diapers we distribute annually, so every donation helps to offset that expense and makes an impact in your local community.”

This year Keeping Families Covered is on track to distribute 1.3 million diapers to local families in need.

“We are excited to once again be partnering with a great local organization like Keeping Families Covered to help give back to our local community,” said Ray Flores, marketing associate for Atturo Tire Corp. “We are looking forward to tapping our network of dealers to not only create a broad reach of donation locations but to also allow them to give back to their community as well.” All sizes of diapers are accepted but sizes 4, 5 and 6 are needed most. New unopened packages are preferred, but partial and open packs will be accepted.

Monetary gifts will be accepted during the drive. No other donations will be accepted. Monetary donations also can be made at https://tinyurl.com/Huggies4Holidays.

People also can support Keeping Families Covered by buying something directly off their Amazon or Target wish list at https://www.keepingfamiliescovered.org/donate. ATTURO TIRES LOCAL DEALERS COLLECTING DONATIONS:

Car Corral Service / 6000 49th St, Kenosha, WI 53144 Closs Tire & Auto / 1340 N Lewis Ave, Waukegan, IL 60085 Smooth Performance Offroad / 2311 N Ringwood Rd, McHenry, IL 60050 Waukegan Tire / 3444 Washington St, Park City, IL 60085 Waukegan Tire / 80 South Green Bay Road, Waukegan, IL 60085 Waukegan Tire / 2060 E. Belvidere Road, Grayslake, IL 60030

WAUKEGAN — DAILY HERALD — Keeping Families Covered and Closs Tire & Auto are joining forces to ensure that families struggling to afford car seats not only can obtain them, but also receive professional instruction on their secure installation.

Sue Dickson, owner of Closs Tire & Auto in Waukegan, completed last summer a 30-hour National Child Passenger Safety technician certification course offered through Safe Kids. She and Ann Marie Mathis, founder and CEO of Waukegan-based Keeping Families Covered, know one another through a business networking group called BNI, or Business Network International.

“We were talking and realized that this would be a great way for us to partner up,” said Mathis, whose organization not only provides hundreds of thousands of diapers and period supplies annually to families in need, but also provides new car seats.

“I can’t tell you the number of people who come to our mobile diaper pantries with young children who are not in car seats,” Mathis continued. “Our new collaboration will be a way to ensure that people not only have the equipment that they need, but also that their seats are installed properly and safely.”

Through an Illinois Department of Transportation grant, Dickson also has access to free or reduced-cost car seats, which go for $70 or more at most retailers.

The women said that their effort will serve clients who are referred through any of the dozens of community partners working with Keeping Families Covered. Listed under “About Us” on keepingfamiliescovered.org, the partnering entities include churches, governmental agencies and charities working throughout Lake County and beyond.

Keeping Families Covered will provide vouchers to referred clients, Mathis said. Voucher recipients then will schedule an appointment with Closs Tire & Auto to pick up their new seat and receive installation instruction — all free of charge.

“This is a way to give back to the community,” Dickson said. “We want to educate consumers, keep kids safe and help save lives.”

Dickson added that each installation-and-instruction session typically takes about 45 minutes and includes a thorough safety check of all tethers, hooks, buckles and fasteners for the seat provided. Appointments will be available Wednesdays, and voucher recipients will be provided with the number to call.