‘Bringing more hope in the Good Life’: Lincoln charity holds diaper drive amid rising need
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska is collecting diapers this week and giving them out to families in need.
One father, Larry Holmes Jr., was picking up diapers at the nonprofit for his new daughter.
“I went to a few stores, and they didn’t even have the ones I needed for my daughter,” he said. “But today, they have them here.”
The executive director of the nonprofit, Katie Patrick, said she understands the struggle of finding and paying for diapers.
She’s a mom of three kids who are all still wearing diapers and has to budget for them monthly.
“Having diapers and being able to routinely change your children to keep them happy and healthy is very important,” Patrick said.
She said last year, Catholic Social Services gave away about 10,000 packages of diapers to parents in need.
But the organizer of the drive, Kay Wessel, said this year, the need for diapers has increased.
Wessel collects diapers all year-round and gives them to families in need, but when the supply runs out, she uses donation money to buy more.
Since June, she’s brought about 1,000 diapers a week to the nonprofit.
“The need has been great, and so the donation supply has been diminished,” she said. “And with money that has been donated, I’ve been able to buy the sizes that are needed, the specific sizes.”
Wessel said the diaper drive is one way Catholic Social Services supports women after they have their babies.
“When you think about changing an infant about six to seven times a day, it takes a lot of diapers,” she said.
Patrick said the goal is that parents don’t have to pick between paying their bills and buying diapers.
“More diapers means bringing more hope in the Good Life,” said Patrick.
Catholic Social Services is accepting all brands and sizes of diapers. Donations can be dropped off at the nonprofit’s building at the corner of 23rd and O streets.
The drive ends on Friday, but people can drop off or pick up diapers at any time.
