Women’s Fund of Central Indiana, a Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) Fund, announced today that it will provide emergency grants to support women and girl serving organizations affected by the impact of COVID-19. The first organization to receive funding from Women’s Fund is Indiana Diaper Bank.
With its $10,000 emergency grant, Indiana Diaper Bank will be able to provide diapers and wipes for 2,500 children throughout Central Indiana, with each family receiving a bundle of diapers. That equates to 62,500 diapers – enough to fill a semitruck. Indiana Diaper Bank collaborates with a network of social service agencies to ensure supplies are distributed to families with infants and babies in the most efficient and timely manner. Individuals in need of free diapers should call 2-1-1.
According to Rachael Suskovich, CEO, Indiana Diaper Bank, 1 in 3 families report not having a sufficient supply of diapers to keep their children clean, healthy and dry. The most vulnerable of our neighbors are impacted— infants and children. Even more challenging for Hoosier families, government programs such as SNAP and WIC cannot be used towards the purchase of diapers. Indiana has been named a diaper desert and Indiana Diaper Bank is the only coordinating diaper bank to address diaper need in our community. The need is even more critical and urgent with the high demand for diapers across the U.S. due to supply shortage and delivery delays caused by the coronavirus.
Diapers cost a family, on average, $100 per month. Many of the families served by Indiana Diaper Bank have more than one child in diapers. This means the family could be paying $200 or even $300 per month. Free diapers for families mean they have the money to pay rent, bills, and provide food for their family.
“We are already seeing a rapid change in accessibility from manufacturers,” explained Suskovich. “I anticipate regulations will continue to tighten, making it even harder to receive supplies. With threats of layoffs and the business closures, we anticipate the need for basic baby essentials will increase among our most vulnerable families.”
This is just one of the many ways Women’s Fund of Central Indiana is leveraging its leadership and funding capacity through this crisis to support women and girls. Funds from the Emergency Relief Fund are being distributed quickly and intentionally through an invitation-only process.
“We recognize the many challenges that are disrupting lives physically, socially and economically and we want to support the organizations as best we can,” said Jennifer Pope Baker, executive director, Women’s Fund of Central Indiana. “We are committed to responding to the evolving needs of our community as quickly as possible during this crisis.”
Contributions to Indiana Diaper Bank can be made online Coronavirus Emergency Response Fund. Social service agencies with an increased need of diaper assistance can contact Indiana Diaper Bank at info@indianadiaperbank.org.