Northwest Community Action Partnership (NCAP) has established a diaper bank for the residents of Chadron, Crawford, and Box Butte County.
One in three American families with babies or small children struggle to afford diapers. Young families often have to skimp on other necessities such as food or utilities. Families who struggle to afford diapers often are forced to change their child’s diaper less frequently than needed due to a lack of adequate supplies, and this can lead to diaper rashes and communicable diseases.
Without an adequate supply of diapers a child cannot attend most daycare programs, which can lead to obstacles for working parents, or those who are continuing their education. A regular supply of clean diapers or pull ups is a basic human need for infants and toddlers but cannot be purchased with any form of government assistance; you cannot buy diapers with WIC or food stamps.
Brooke Smith, the Human Resources Director for NCAP, established a diaper bank program in Colorado in 2011, and within two years was distributing over 250,000 diapers per year. After moving to Chadron, she launched the Chadron Diaper Bank. In the last two years the diaper bank program has been extended to Crawford and all of Box Butte County, with plans for expanding to the other communities NCAP serves.
Anyone who qualifies financially for Head Start, Early Head Start, or WIC is automatically approved for the diaper bank if they are residents of Box Butte County. All that is needed for those clients is a simple referral form that staff from Head Start or WIC complete on behalf of the client. Families also qualify if they provide income documentation to NCAP showing household income at or less than 185% of the Federal Poverty Level. Phone the Alliance NCAP office at 308-762-4960 for more information.
Currently there are 79 children enrolled in the Alliance Diaper Bank, which serves all of Box Butte County. Head Start or Early Head Start staff deliver a package of 25 diapers once a month to clients. Clients who receive WIC benefits are able to pick up their diapers from NCAP’s Outreach office in Alliance.
NCAP does not stock other baby supplies, like formula, wipes, or diaper creams. When these additional resources are available, staff distributes the items to clients based on greatest need.
NCAP gets diapers from a variety of sources, including diaper drives and fundraisers in the communities they serve. Diapers are also purchased with grant funding from a variety of partners such as the United Way, FEMA, and Community Services Block Grants.
The NCAP Diaper Bank works closely with the Alliance Senior Center. Donations of diapers or pull ups can be dropped off at the Senior Center, 212 Yellowstone Avenue. Diapers are re-packaged by RSVP volunteers before being distributed.
NCAP also accepts monetary donations. Checks can be mailed to the NCAP central office at 270 Pine Street Chadron NE 69337. Please indicate in the memo line that the check is for the Alliance Diaper Bank. NCAP and its clients are always grateful for the support of the community!