CARIBOU, Maine — Staff at the Pines Women’s and Children’s Health Center pitched in to address a growing need in the community, and the result will benefit local babies.
The team held the first-ever Pines Diaper Drive recently, collecting 1,310 diapers.
“Families, particularly in rural communities that do not have access to bulk stores, spend nearly twice the amount on diapers. The cost adds up so quickly, as an average baby may go through as many as 12 diapers a day.” said Kim Chabre, LSW-C, care coordinator at Pines Women’s and Children’s Health Center.
Currently, Chabre said, one in three families experience “diaper need,” which is described as not being able to sufficiently provide diapers needed to keep a baby clean, dry and healthy.
“This experience brought to light the fact that being able to afford diapers is something many families take for granted,” Chabre said, adding over 20 percent of children in Aroostook County live in poverty. Although there are federal safety nets for food, there are none for diapers.
“This unhealthy circumstance can lead to further health concerns down the road for children. The mission of this project is to create a diaper bank that families can count on,” she added.
“This project would have not have been possible without the support of our communities and the team at Pines. As a community health center, we are always looking for ways to improve health, economic and emotional well-being of children and families in the areas we serve,” Chabre noted. “It has been very rewarding to give back to our patients.”
