More than 4,000 diapers have been donated to southwest Michigan organizations for parents in need, thanks United Through Motherhood in Benton Harbor. The donations went out Friday. United Through Motherhood President Ruth Kremer tells us the organization was formed by several women who began talking about ways they could help address equity issues in the community. The group gave 5,000 diapers to the Berrien County Health Department this year, and then more support started coming in.
“I am just so grateful for the way this community has responded to the need,” Kremer said. “So many people were not aware that people on state and federal assistance are prohibited from using those funds to buy disposable diapers, and without disposable diapers, they can’t access daycare, which leads to the whole tumbledown spiral of bad news.”
Kremer says Friday’s distribution was possible thanks to an $1,100 grant from the Women’s Endowment Fund of the Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley. Fund President Mara Boettcher told us this is a unique cause.
“The whole idea touched our hearts to begin with, the fact that we could offer diapers to mothers and babies in need was just exceptional,” Boettcher said.
Also, a donation of $500 was made by United Federal Credit Union. Receiving the diapers Friday were Neighbor 2 Neighbor, the Cass Family Center, the Coloma Family Center, and Neighbor by Neighbor, in addition to the health department. Kremer says more grants could be incoming and she wants to set up a permanent diaper bank.
