The JLCW’s Diaper Drive began in Fall of 2011 in part as an effort to raise awareness about how the high cost of diapers is having a negative impact on families.  The HUGGIES Every Little Bottom Study, released in June 2010, reveals that one in three American moms struggle to provide diapers for their babies. These mothers have had to cut back on other basics including food, utilities and child care in order to provide diapers to their children. This issue of “diaper need”’ has gone largely unrecognized until now.

When the JLCW Diaper Drive began, the organization’s goal was to collect 2,000 diapers for Family Services of Westchester’s Early Head Start program in White Plains. Through their own efforts in the local community before the HUGGIES donation, the JLCW is pleased to announce that the group exceeded its original goal by 13,000, bringing the total to 15,000 diapers.  With the addition of 40,000 diapers, many more of FSW’s programs can benefit from this Drive, including the agency’s Family Mental Health Centers, Early Childhood Respite, and the teenaged mothers in Bienvenidas Girls at Port Chester High School.  Because of the size of this immense donation, the 40,000 diapers from HUGGIES are being stored and distributed out of The Sharing Shelf’s warehouse, FSW’s program for collecting and distributing gently used clothing for Westchester children and youth.

“We are honored to have been selected by HUGGIES to be the recipient of such a large donation, which will serve to directly help so many families in our community,” notes Lynn Marvin, President of JLCW.  “The JLCW is committed to helping spread awareness of the economic stress that diaper need places on families.”

“We applaud the efforts of the JLCW and are so grateful to the members for collecting thousands of diapers for our Early Head Start families,” says Susan B. Wayne, President and CEO of Family Services of Westchester. Barbara Sommer, Senior Director of Early Head Start/Head Start, welcomed the arrival of the diapers. “Federal guidelines require us to provide diapers for children attending Early Head Start, a program for children living in poverty,” notes Sommer. “With this generous gift, we will be able to provide diapers during classroom hours and for home use.”

The JLCW is part of The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. (AJLI), one of the largest, most effective women’s volunteer organizations in the world. The AJLI is a major partner of Kimberly-Clark’s HUGGIES® Every Little Bottom program, which donated more than 22.5 million diapers to needy families in North America in 2011.   For more information about diaper need and how to get involved, visit www.EveryLittleBottom.com.

About the Junior League of Central Westchester (JLCW)

The JLCW is a non-profit women’s organization committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.  Headquartered at historic Wayside Cottage, the JLCW has served the communities of Eastchester, Greenburgh, Scarsdale and White Plains for more than 65 years.  Our approximately 250 active and sustaining members are accomplished collaborators who identify community needs and develop effective and responsive programs to serve those needs.  The JLCW invites women of all races, religions and national origins who are committed to volunteerism to become a member.  (Additional Information at www.jlcentralwestchester.com)

MEDIA CONTACT: Please call 914.723