Local humanitarian aid organization Global Links and the Western PA Diaper Bank (WPDB) have partnered to host a drive-up diaper distribution event on Thursday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., outside PPG Paints Arena, thanks to support from the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation.  The distribution will be equipped to serve up to 1,000 cars.

Families and caregivers of young children who are experiencing financial hardship are invited to line up by car outside PPG Paints Arena to receive a case (four packages) of diapers, as well as a package of wipes, at no cost to families. An informational sheet listing neighborhood resource centers that can provide further diaper assistance, as well as safe sleep information provided by Cribs for Kids, will also be distributed with each case.

Parents and caregivers will have the option of choosing a one-size case of diapers, or two packages each of two different sizes.

“With record numbers of individuals experiencing unemployment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many local families are struggling financially,” says Global Links Executive Director Angela Garcia. “Diapers are a necessity, but they are costly, and they cannot be purchased with SNAP or EBT benefits, making them a required cash purchase. By working together, Global Links and the Western PA Diaper Bank have been able to leverage our grant dollars and relationships with vendors to secure diaper inventory, and with the assistance of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Penguins Foundation in providing a location and logistical support, we are able to host a day for parents and caregivers to acquire diapers for the young children in their care.”

Traffic details are as follows:

• All vehicles attending the diaper distribution will enter the distribution area by turning onto Logan Street from Centre Avenue. Once on Logan Street, personnel on site will direct vehicles from the lots to the location at which the diapers will be distributed. To exit, all traffic will be routed to Fullerton Street and will exit via Centre Avenue.
• Bedford Avenue between Washington Place and Crawford Street will be closed to traffic from downtown going uphill. Traffic from downtown can turn right onto Washington Place to access Centre Avenue or stay left on Bigelow Boulevard.
• Wylie Avenue will be closed between Crawford Street and Logan Street.

Cathy Battle, Founder and Executive Director of the Western PA Diaper Bank, states, “Since the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two months, the WPDB has distributed 161,433 diapers. Comparatively, our typical distribution levels during this same time last year was no more than 50,000 per month.  The need is astronomical and so sudden.  With this distribution, we hope to alleviate some community need, while bringing awareness to the greater need that still exists.”  The National Diaper Bank estimates that an infant uses 8-12 diapers per day and a toddler uses 6-8 diapers per day. The National Diaper Bank Network reports that 1 in 3 American families struggle to afford diapers for their children. At the rate of six diapers per day, diaper-wearing children in poverty in the United States require more than 5.8 billion diapers annually. This suggests that 77,000 diapers per day are required to meet diaper need in Allegheny County.  As always, the need is much greater than the supply.

“We are pleased to support the Western PA Diaper Bank, and Global Links, as their efforts are much needed, and greatly appreciated by the community in which we live, and serve,” said David Morehouse, CEO of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

 

About Global Links

Global Links is a medical relief and development organization dedicated to supporting health improvement initiatives in resource-poor communities, primarily in the Western Hemisphere. Global Links collaborates with U.S. healthcare institutions and the community to rescue hundreds of tons of high-quality surplus medical materials every year that would otherwise be sent to landfills. These materials are shared with public health facilities around the world and with non-profit organizations in Western Pennsylvania that are providing care for their community’s most vulnerable people. For more information, visit www.globallinks.org. Global Links. Sharing Surplus. Saving Lives.

 

About Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank

Founded in 2012, the Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank  (WPDB) is the only regional nonprofit organization focused solely on the distribution of diapers to low-income families. Additionally, the WPDB acts as an informal clearinghouse referring families to additional social service organizations as needed. A few highlights over the past eight years include expansion into three counties, (Allegheny, Fayette, and Westmoreland), growing from an initial six partner agencies to twenty-eight, distributing more than a million diapers at no cost to families in need, as well as, securing warehouse space and office space in three counties. Co-founder and Executive Director, Cathy Battle has received recognition for her organizational dedication including three consecutive Jefferson Awards, one of which she shares with her husband, the Rev. Phillip Battle.

The Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank strives to bring public awareness of the diaper crisis in our region. By partnering with other non-profit agencies, faith-based institutions, and childcare providers, the Western PA Diaper Bank aims to increase the distribution of diapers to families and individuals in need.

For additional information, please visit www.wpadiaperbank.org.  The Blessing is in the Diaper.