HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Costs are high on many everyday items and that includes diapers. Some families may struggle to afford them but local organizations are teaming up to provide these diapers to anyone who needs them.
Jamie Thomas, the founder and president of Amelia's Closet says, "Diapers are approximately $85 a month for a child. And so, you know, that could simply be a doctor's co-pay or or just the rise in grocery prices, and that diaper budget has been taken up."
Amelia's Closet is an organization that works to provide families with diapers.
On Saturday (8/27/22) at 9 AM, Amelia's Closet and Refuge Church will team up to have a drive-thru diaper distribution.
"Statistics show that one in three families in the United States have diaper need. So that's pretty astounding. And like I said, this is open to anyone that needs diapers. It's not just those that maybe have a long term need. It's it's open to anyone," Thomas said.
Their organization partners with 14 different distribution locations to give diapers throughout the year. This specific event will be at the Athens and Harvest Refuge Church locations.
Shirley Schofield, the CEO of Food Bank of North Alabama says they're also seeing a great need for diapers from their community partners.
"It was the most frequently requested non-food item that we were getting from our partners that we worked with," Schofield said.
The food bank is seeing a huge need as their small supply of 7 boxes of diapers went down to two boxes in the matter of minutes.
"The cost of a lot of items are increasing with inflation, with some of the supply chain challenges that have been going on. The need for diapers has increased as well. So we are seeing a lot of people needing diapers, especially right now as kids are going back to school and you've got kids going back to daycare," Schofield said.
Amelia's Closet will give out about 46,000 diapers but Thomas urges families to get to the distribution sites early as it is first come, first serve.
"Each vehicle will receive two packs of diapers, a pack of wipes that will all be inside a bag with a few other goodies inside there," Thomas said.
There are seven different sizes of diapers available.