Investing in good health: Southeast Missouri Diaper Bank assists area families

Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Alexa Haynes, right, a parent educator with the New Madrid County Resoure Center, and Tonya Caruth Vannasdall, executive director, prepare a delivery of diapers. As the Southeast Missouri Diaper Bank, the center provides 50 free diapers per infant each month to families who request them. Vannasdall said the packages also include other free items ranging from wipes to books as well as information about the wide range of services available through the Resource Center.
Jill Bock/Standard Democrat

NEW MADRID, Mo. — You can’t explain panic buying due to the coronavirus pandemic to an infant.

Babies go though six to 12 diapers every day, according to the National Diaper Bank Network.

But with empty shelves or limits on purchases, some families had to ration the diapers they had available.

Then in late March a post by the New Madrid County Family Resource Center reminding the public they serve as the Southeast Missouri Diaper Bank went viral. Tonya Carruth Vannasdall, the center’s executive director, said demand skyrocketed.

“Typically we provide anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 diapers a month,” Vannasdall said about the local diaper bank. “Just in the last few weeks we have handed out 15,000 diapers.”

Fifty diapers are given per infant. All of the diapers are free.

The Center’s director emphasized the program is there for anyone in need.

“We are here to help supply diapers to help keep babies clean and healthy,” she said. “There is no shame, no barriers to asking for the diapers. We take their names and what size diapers the baby needs and that is it. If they need them, we are willing to give them to them as long as we have them.”

The Resource Center is a member of the National Diaper Bank Network. From the national bank, it purchases diapers and other products at a discount.

As the Southeast Missouri Diaper Bank, they regularly distributed the diapers to approximately 80 families in Scott, Pemiscot and New Madrid counties for the past two years. With the recent opening of an office in Stoddard County, diapers are now distributed there, too.

The Center has enlisted several partners that help fund the free diaper distribution. Through their memberships, programs such as Early Head Start and Head Start distribute diapers to families. Also the Center partners with organizations as far away as Poplar Bluff and Columbia to provide diapers in those communities.

Additional supplies the Center receives from its national membership are shared with the partners, Vannasdall said. This has included wipes, books and other publications.

The Center continues to expand its services.

Since October, a grant through the University of Missouri’s ParentLink enabled the Center to assist those determined as kinship providers.

“If they are taking care of their grandchildren, their sister’s children or whomever, then they can get 100 diapers (per infant) free from us,” Vannasdall said. “The reasoning behind that was all of a sudden, you get these kids into your home that you weren’t counting on and it takes a lot to get started. So we are here for them to at least provide the diapers and keep the children’s bottoms dry and help keep them safe and well.”

Currently, the Center assists 40 kinship families.

Recently adult diapers and incontinent supplies became available through the Center. The supplies were welcomed by the older residents they serve, Vannasdall said.

Also Vannasdall and her staff are finishing the details on a program which will provide menstrual supplies at no charge.

When it comes to the services provided through the Diaper Bank, Vannasdall said most of the recipients are surprised the items are free. All the families are appreciative, she added.

“And it is a feel-good for us to be able to offer that to the families so that they are not struggling at least with the diapers,” Vannasdall said.

The governor’s mandate for social isolation and limits on gathering has impacted how the Diaper Bank is currently operating. Families no longer pick up the diapers, instead the Center’s staff is delivering them to the door.

She explained those in need of diapers must call the Center at 573-748-2778. The staff takes down the name, address and size of diapers needed.

“We just put the delivery next to their door, knock and leave,” she said. “The first week we probably delivered 12,000.”

The week of April 20 is the next scheduled delivery for families in need of diapers.

Emily McCord, a case manager at the center, took part in many of the deliveries. She said the appreciation expressed by the families is humbling.

“They are very thankful. They thank you multiple times from the doorway until you go out the driveway,” she said. “It is just a privilege to be able to do this work for the community.”

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To arrange a diaper delivery from the New Madrid County Resource Center’s Diaper Bank, call 573-748-2778 or contact the Center through its Facebook page.

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