BY RICK KAZMER
United Way of the Laurel Highlands
The United Way of the Laurel Highlands Diaper Bank has received a boost from a local foundation.
The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies has awarded the project a $4,000 grant as part of their spring grant cycle. This investment comes from the Penelec Fund for the Future of Greater Johnstown and the Terry and Vivian Dunkle Fund of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies.
The funding will be used to buy diapers in size of greatest need, for repackaging materials and for other costs associated with operating the bank, which serves families from southern Somerset County to northern Cambria County.
“The Diaper Bank is meeting a critical, often overlooked need in our community. Not only are clean diapers important to a baby’s health, but they can stand in the way of working families being able to access child care. Supporting healthy child development is not only beneficial for a child’s future, but it’s also good for the economy,” United Way President & CEO Karen Struble Myers said.
The bank, which held the third distribution day on April 27, has provided 236 bundles so far this year, totaling 5,900 diapers.
The project started in the fall with a series of community diaper drives, bringing in about 24,000 diapers. Community volunteers provided more than 60 hours of time to repackage diapers into parcels of 25. About 1 in 3 families in the state fall short by about 25 diapers a month.
The bank distributes diapers across 11 locations, utilizing the United Way's network of Partner Agencies and other collaborators.
For information on the diaper bank, email admin@uwlaurel.org.