Betsy Byker, manager of the United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valleys diaper bank, started with an overview of UW Valleys programs and services. She covered the agency's community impact grants, 211 help line and how it functions, the John Coughlin Hope Fund, Day of Caring, and Give Big Valleys, and of course the Diaper Bank. Click READ MORE for the full story.
The diaper bank need came from the agency's 211 call center because the callers often stated that the couldn't afford diapers. Diaper pantries started in Polk County in August 2022 and in Pierce County in February 2023 in partnership with the Pierce County Food Pantry in Ellsworth. Betsy emphasized that there are no requirements for the service other than the stated need: in other words, all are welcome.
In explaining "why diapers?", Betsy said that 1 in 3 parents struggle to meet basic needs for their children. Not having enough diapers can lead to infections, pain, and illness for young children. The inability to provide an adequate number of diapers contributes to maternal depression. No state or federal funding can be used for diaper purchases, and having diapers is an important factor in workforce development with daycare being essential for mothers who must work.
In Pierce County in 2024, 157 children in 135 families were served with a total of 657 visits to diaper pantries. As expected from the populations, Ellsworth and River Falls represented the largest number of visits.
Betsy noted that the UW Valleys program is now certified as a member of the National Diaper Bank network, which gives UW Valleys access to wholesale pricing, access to member-specific grants, and the ability to network with other NDB members. In conclusion, she congratulated our club and community on our success and reminded us of our numbers: 47,665 diapers collected, and 765 packages of wipes