Broadway in Cincinnati and Mamma Mia! have partnered with Sweet Cheeks to stock diaper bank’s shelves
Imagine caring for a baby and not being able to provide something as simple as a clean diaper every time one is needed. That is a reality for 1 in 2 families in our Greater Cincinnati community who experience diaper need: the lack of enough diapers to keep a baby clean, dry, and healthy.
Diapers aren’t covered by government assistance programs like SNAP and WIC, which means when cash runs out, caregivers have to make difficult decisions to reuse disposable diapers or keep their baby in the same diaper for days at a time. This leads to infections, severe diaper rash, and developmental delays for babies, as well as stress for the entire family.
COVERD Greater Cincinnati, which runs the program Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank, was founded in 2015 to combat basic needs poverty in our community. Since then, Sweet Cheeks has distributed over 13 million free diapers through 50 social service partner agencies, and serves an average of 4,000 babies each month.
Because of Sweet Cheeks diapers, families report reduced stress, healthier children, and the ability to pay more household bills. One of the organization’s partner agencies, Community Matters, shared this story about their client, Sarah:
“Sarah and her kids currently stay in a shelter. She shared with staff how receiving diapers not only helps her reach her financial goals, but also gives her the opportunity to think beyond the immediate needs of her family and work toward her goal of a home of her own for her and her kids. Planning ahead feels impossible when a person is in crisis. Being able to address an immediate need gives Sarah the stability she needs to make steps toward her larger goals.”
Despite Sweet Cheeks’s quick expansion and growing reach in recent years, there are still over 100 local agencies on a wait list whose clients need diapers, and according to census data the diaper bank has barely met 20% of the diaper need in our area. This month, Sweet Cheeks is moving to a larger warehouse in Walnut Hills which will allow the organization to expand and meet the growing need for diapers and other hygiene products like period and adult incontinence supplies.
Broadway in Cincinnati, presented by TriHealth, is proud to partner with Sweet Cheeks by hosting a diaper drive during the run of Mamma Mia!, promoting the mission of the diaper bank, and connecting the show’s cast to volunteer opportunities.
If you’d like to support the work of Sweet Cheeks by donating, signing up to volunteer, and spreading the word about their mission today, please visit SweetCheeksDiaperBank.org.
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