My newest blog post is on behalf of a great cause, www.HappyBottoms.org, but before I explain, I need to tell you how we met. As I teeter on the edge of social media, I am amazed everyday at its power. Whether I notice that two friends know each other on Facebook that I had no idea were connected, or we get an order at www.Bagettes.com because of a Twitter comment, I cannot help but want to embrace it. I am not saying it's been easy for me, or that I dove in willingly, but I am trying to expand my knowledge of social media and learn to love it. My friend and social media wiz Alexis Ceule of
http://confessionsofasocialmediamamapreneur.blogspot.com told me this quote she heard from a communications expert: "Never again accept or say these words -That's the way we've always done it." No matter what your business is, your volunteer work, your blog, this quote applies, and for me it especially rings true.
So that is how I met Jill Gaikowski from www.HappyBottomsOrg. Jill found me through my blog, and she is a Kansas City mom who is doing some great things. Her group (and when I say group I mean Jill) is organizing diaper drives to get diapers to families in need in the Kansas City Metro. She reached out to me as a blogger to help get the message out, so....
Did you know??
1. Safety-net programs such as SNAP (food stamps) and WIC (women infants children) do NOT cover diapers.
2. Diaper companies do NOT make big donations to shelters or outreach programs.
3. Diapers are expensive, and cost exponentially more at an inner city convenience store (where most low income families shop due to lack of/cost of transportation) than they do at a big box store or online.
4. Cloth is NOT an option for most low income families. Laundromats do NOT allow you to wash cloth diapers. Licensed daycare centers (esp. free or subsidized) do not accept cloth diapers. Parents must provide disposable diapers.
5. If a family can’t afford diapers a baby will spend extended periods of time, sometimes days at a time in the same soiled diaper.
6. Spending all day in the same diaper increases the risk of numerous health problems including diaper rash and may be linked to an increased rate of hepatitis, not to mention an unhappy baby.
7. Unhappy babies are crying babies. Crying babies are more likely to be abused by an already stressed out caregiver.
How can you help???
Jill is currently looking for 50 people to collect diapers from now until the end of April with a goal of collecting 1000 diapers each. She will also be having a Mother's Day drive coming up the first weekend in May.
You can donate online anytime at happybottoms.org or drop off diapers anytime at the following locations:
The Learning Tree (Prairie Village and Leawood)
Children's Orchard (Lee's Summit, Olathe and Kansas City)
Kiddo's Collection (Lee's Summit)
Deanna Rose Farms (Overland Park) starting April 1
In addition to unopened box of diapers, HappyBottoms will aslo accept opened packages. So if your child has just changed sizes or is recently potty trained, those unused diapers can be put to good use. You don't have to donate 1000, any amount will be happily accepted.
The reality of 1000 diapers to you - Costco bulk diaper boxes have 258 diapers in them at $40 per box. Get four friends to sign on, and you have your 1000 diapers! Jill found Target and Sam's Club diapers have the best cost per unit out there.
For more information, visit Jill's site, www.HappyBottoms.org, and as Jill likes to quote "Give Cheeks A Chance!"
