Community members are working hard to ensure families across Metro Detroit have access to diapers and other critical items each month.
On the fourth Wednesday of each month, a long line of vehicles is outside St. Suzanne Cody Rouge Community Resource Center on Detroit’s west side.
The community members wait for a moving truck filled with diapers and other supplies to arrive.
“We give out diapers to the community,” said Minnie Davis of Young Men-N-Motion.
The site is one of Metropolitan Detroit Diaper Bank’s monthly Diaper Day stops.
“We give basic hygienical needs,” said Veronica Claybrone, Founder and Director of Metropolitan Detroit Diaper Bank. “Period supplies, diapers for infants, diapers for children, and diapers for people who have incontinence problems. We also do toilet training.”
The group provides resources for community members, from babies to seniors. Families travel from across Metro Detroit to pick up the free diaper supplies.
“They’re expensive,” said Darecka Woods. “It takes the load off.”
The workers and volunteers said they are committed to helping families. They get hundreds of requests for services.
“One in three moms struggle with diaper needs,” Davis said.
Community organizers, like Davis, have been partnering with the Metropolitan Detroit Diaper Bank since the program started in 2015. She also maintains an emergency diaper supply at the Mathis Center, where her work is based.
“I love serving others, and I don’t want to see anybody going without,” Davis said. “So, I think that if we can help out, that’s what we are going to do.”
The Diaper Day even serves 130 to 250 families per month with diapers and other supplies. The program provides a boost, helping some families make ends meet. It’s giving community members access to much-needed resources until the next Diaper Day.
Organizers with the Metropolitan Detroit Diaper Bank said they need more volunteers and donations to expand their work.
Click here to learn more about the organization and how you can help.