New support and new partners have been announced by United Through Motherhood in Benton Harbor, the group that’s been collecting diapers to be given out to families in need around southwest Michigan. On Thursday, United Through Motherhood announced grants totaling $48,000 from the Berrien Community Foundation and the Pokagon Fund to distribute diapers around the region. President Ruth Kremer told us they started with a diaper drive about a year and a half ago, and then the support came pouring in.
“What we found is this diaper need – we didn’t know how to quantify it in the beginning and it’s only been going on for a year and a half – but look at how much support there is, and these diapers are flying out of here,” Kremer said.
United Through Motherhood has been giving diapers to the Berrien County Health Department, Neighbor 2 Neighbor, and Neighbor by Neighbor. New to the list are Intercare, Hope Resources, Feeding America, and His Place Outreach Center. Intercare Health Center Manager Robin Golliday told us the health organization sees the need for diapers every day.
“We do see a lot of patients that have skin irritants, and some can get urinary tract infections from prolonged use of soiled diapers,” Golliday said. “We even provide diapers when they come in and they need to be changed. ‘Here’s one, here’s another one.'”
Golliday noted public assistance program dollars can’t be used to buy diapers, creating additional challenges for those who are struggling. United Through Motherhood shipped out another 10,000 diapers on Thursday, making its total so far more than 25,000. Anyone who wants to donate can send a check to Temple B’Nai Shalom in Benton Harbor. Make it out to United Through Motherhood.
