I am in the minority – many Americans face the decision between diapers and food every day because they simply cannot afford both. Like many Americans I tend to turn the other way and pretend like these problems don’t affect me – but they do. They may not affect me personally but they do affect my community and they do affect hundreds (probably millions) of Americans – some that I walk past every day. That person in line next to me at Wal-Mart, or that child who attends school with my babes, or that family who is attending our church for the first time – or maybe it’s you!
There aren’t many places that I decide to give my hard earned money to without questions. I donate/tithe to our church community (almost) every week. I donate to the Real Diaper Association once or twice a year. And most recently I have donated both diapers and money to an organization that is helping to diaper families across America.
This is my little helper carrying 2 boxes of diapers that we donated last week. One box was shipped to a friend on mine who just lost her job, has 2 babies in diapers, and a very small and aging stash of bumGenius 3.0s. The second (and larger) box was shipped to Giving Diapers, Giving Hope.
Inside the box for Giving Diapers, Giving Hope you can see some of my favorite diapers – many of which were provided to me by the manufacturers to review on this blog.
Since we are mostly potty trained (only in diapers at nighttime) I decided it was FINALLY time to let some of the stash go to babies who are in need. My husband suggested that I sell some of them but I just couldn’t do it – my heart has been leading me to this organization for months now and I had to listen to my heart.
In April 2010, Giving Diapers, Giving Hope was started by Kristen McCarthy and Emily Glover (whom I had the pleasure of meeting last August at the ABC Kids Expo) as a local cloth diaper lending foundation for Gloucester, MA. Within weeks of beginning their local service, GDGH’s Facebook page and email inbox were full of inquiries from parents across the country. To meet this need, Kristen and Emily decided to expand and accept applications from families throughout the United States. Over the last 10 months, Giving Diapers, Giving Hope has already managed to help over 70 families cloth diaper their babies.
Because Giving Diapers, Giving Hope expanded so rapidly to meet the needs of families they are still working to obtain enough funding to file for their 501 c3. A 501 c3 is needed to become a recognized non-profit and will further their ability to help lend free cloth diapers to families in need.
In addition to filing for the 501 c3 Giving Diapers, Giving Hope is in need of funds to purchase office supplies such as business cards and letterheads, packaging materials, and buy supplies needed to repair donated diapers that need them (like a few of my well loved bumGenius 3.0s). To make it happen a fundraiser campaign was planned by Kim of Dirty Diaper Laundry.
The Fundraiser involves two parts: the first is a kickoff Twitter Party. January 25 at 9 PM EST join @KimRosas, @GivingDiapers, and friends and tweet using the #GivingHOPE hashtag. There will be prizes given during the party but to be eligible you must RSVP on Kim’s website. Some prizes include gift certificates to Abby’s Lane and Kelly’s Closet, 6 Diaper Rite Pockets from Diaper Junction, 8 CJ’s BUTTer’s from Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique, a Prize Pack of all natural, vegan balms from “THE” Balm, a One Size Gro Via, Thirsties Duo Diaper, GroVia Magic Stick and GroVia disposable Biosoaker inserts from Jack Be Naturaland more! But this is just the TIP of the iceberg.On January 25 the Facebook Fundraising Campaign will also open. With over $1,700 worth of prizes you do not want to miss out! All prizes can be viewed easily on the Fundraiser Announcement post. There are prize packs from The NOW Family (ARV $124), Orange Diaper Co (ARV $100.00), Tushie Ties Tie on Prefolds ( ARV $90.00), a $100.00 Gift Certificate to Sweetbottoms Baby Boutique, a BabyKicks Prize Pack (ARV $78.00), an Oeko Popo Prize Pack (ARV $84.00), a “Try Cloth Diapers” Prize pack from Go Green Baby Shop (ARV $70), a GroVia and more Prize Pack from Jack Be Natural, an Accessory Prize Pack from Abby’s Lane (ARV $75.00), another Accessories Prize pack from Modern Cloth ($ARV $80.00), an Incredibum Package (ARV $100.00), “The” BALM! Package (ARV $75.00), a Thirsties package with 3 new DUO AIO’s and more (ARV $75.00), 2 bumGenius Freetimes donated by All About Cloth Diapers, and much, much much more! Whew! All of the prizes are listed on the Dirty Diaper Laundry Facebook Page and the contest will open first thing in the morning on January 25 and ends midnight on February 14. To enter just like the sponsor’s pages using the easy to use Rafflecopter widget. You don’t have to like every page but you must like the sponsor’s page to win their prize.
It should be noted that every sponsor you see listed has generously given a monetary donation to Giving Diapers, Giving Hope so please, please show them your appreciation and support! (Yes, I am a sponsor and I did donate financially from the money earned on this blog to this organization.)
How can you help? Just spread the word to all of your cloth diapering friends! Share the giveaway on your Facebook, Twitter, Message Boards, or by carrier pigeon to your buddy on a deserted island.
If you want to do more to help out a worthy cause you can, and you even get more entries into the giveaway! If you donate any amount, anything, you get 25 extra entries. Send a donation to givingdiapersgivinghope@gmail.com via Paypal then choose the Donation option in the giveaway. By donating any amount you increase your chances to win one of these amazing prizes!
I hope you will join me in supporting this organization I believe so much in. This Fundraiser will help them continue operating for the rest of the year.
To learn more about Giving Diapers, Giving Hope you can visit them on their website: http://givingdiapersgivinghope.org, or their Facebook Page: http://facebook.com/givingdiapersgivinghopefoundation.
This orginization is completly amazing! There are many people such as my self who can not afford the starting costs of cloth diapering. These lovely women gave me the chance to do it. Now not only am I helping the environment but I am saving money. I plan to buy my own diapers in the next fee months with the money I have saved and i will be donating to them as soon as I am able to. With out these girls and this program I did not know what I was going to do!