Deck the Halls with Diapers

LAKE COUNTY JOURNAL GURNEE – Twice As Nice Mother & Child, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to providing basic needs to families in crisis, is teaming up with local businesses to Deck the Halls with Diapers to combat diaper need in Lake County. The goal is to collect 20,000 diapers in the month of December through diaper drives held by 20 businesses in Lake County. Diaper need affects one in three families regardless of age, race or in-come and safety net programs such as food stamps and WIC do not cover diapers. Families that have an inadequate supply of clean diapers must often leave their children in a single diaper all day, which can result in diaper rash and other detrimental health issues. “Diapers are an ongoing and high priority need for many families, but especially those that are experiencing financial hardship,” Ann Marie Mathis, founder and executive director of Twice As Nice Mother & Child, said in a news release. “Those families must often choose between buying diapers, paying bills or getting groceries. Over 36 percent of parents living in poverty routinely run out of diapers for their children and few resources exist to help them. With a cost between $80 and $100 per month per child, diapers are an expense that many families struggle to afford.” As a member of the National Diaper Bank Network, the organ

ization pro-vides diapers at no charge. The organization, which is run entirely by volunteers, distributes more than 100,000 diapers to families every year – and this year it will hit the 200,000 mark, according to the release. Lake County businesses that will be accepting diaper donations for Twice As Nice Mother & Child through Dec. 31 during normal business hours include The Law Offices of David R. Del Re, 200 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Waukegan; Veteran Carpet Cleaning, 10 N. Lake St., Grayslake; KinderCare Learning Center, 6480 Gurnee Mills Circle West, Gurnee; L Studio Lash & Skin Care Boutique, 443 E. Park Ave., Libertyville; Fresh Salon, 71 S. Whitney St., Grayslake; Dia

mond Residential Mortgage, 533 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville; Mowery & Schoen-feld LLC, 475 Half Day Road, Suite 250, Lincolnshire; North Shore Pro-Active Health, 112 Lake St., Libertyville; MB Financial Bank, 1620 Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills; Lake County Cares, 400 E. Illinois Road Lake Forest; First American Bank, 7005 Grand Ave., Gurnee; Mercer, 544 Lakeview Park-way, Suite 300, Vernon Hills; The Exer-cise Coach, 6695 Grand Ave., Gurnee; Fidelity National Title, 1800 Nations Drive, Suite 209, Gurnee; Hunt Club Community Center, 920 N. Hunt Club Road, Gurnee; Viking Park, 4374 Old Grand Ave., Gurnee; FitNation, 1655 Nations Drive, Gurnee; Apex Signs & Graphics, 37 Sherwood Terrace, Suite 124, Lake Bluff; ASF Financial Services, 1800 Nations Drive, No. 117, Gurnee; and Gurnee Village Hall, 325 O’Plaine Road, Gurnee. Secure monetary donations can be made via the organization’s website at www.twiceasnicemc.org. A gift of $50 will provide a child with 200 diapers, which is a one-month supply. Diapers also can be dropped off at Twice As Nice Mother & Child’s office at 4185 Grove Ave. in Gurnee (call for details) or bought through the organization’s “wish list” on Amazon. All donations are tax deductible. For in-formation about Twice As Nice Mother & Child, please call 224-637-1644 or visit www.twiceasnicemc.org.