Diaper bank lends locals a helping hand

By Cameron Rasmusson
Reader Staff

Raising a child is an expensive proposition by any measure, but diapers in particular are a notorious extra cost for new parents.

Fortunately, a new service is available to local parents that helps lighten the load. Organized by Mountain States Early Head Start, a new diaper bank means more money in the wallets of cash-strapped parents — money that could be used for more important things like, say, a college fund.

“We are grateful to be part of the second Diaper Bank in Idaho, making it possible for hard-working families to stretch their dollars while also helping to assure that each child has ongoing access to clean diapers to help prevent rashes and discomfort,” said Kimberley Seitz of Mountain States Early Head Start.

The Sandpoint Diaper Bank is a branch of the national Diaper Bank, which supports 300 community-based iterations of its core mission. For families enrolled in Mountain States Early Head Start, access to the Diaper Bank means 50 high-quality diapers per month through partners at United Way, Nurse Family Partnership, Inland Northwest SIDS Foundation and the Community Library.

The 50 diapers provided through the program take a big bite out of the monthly expense. With infants using 10 to 12 diapers per day and toddlers running through seven to eight, it costs about $80 to $90 each month to keep Junior outfitted in a fresh set of Pampers. And with 47 percent of Idaho parents with children birth age to three years old meeting the federal standard of poverty, those dollars are often sorely needed.

“This is why many children spend too long in soiled diapers,” said Seitz. “Wearing dirty diapers too long creates potential health risks such as yeast infections, rashes and staph and bladder infections — not to mention a very grumpy, uncomfortable baby.”

Call 208-263-2569 for more information.