WestSide Baby needs your help now: Newborn-size diaper shortage!

Just out of the WSB inbox from Nancy Woodland at WestSide Baby – can you help?

WestSide Baby has empty diaper shelves in the Newborn size! Although we were lucky to collect 27,000 diapers at Stuff the Bus at the end of July, we started supplementing the smallest (newborn) and largest (5&6) the very same week. As often occurs, most diaper drives result in a lot of diapers in the 1-4 sizes and our smallest and largest baby bottoms are missed. We will take open packages and we’re thrilled to announce a NEW Diapers Only drive-thru drop off location in the West Seattle Junction at Red Cup Espresso: 4453 California Ave. SW. Diapers can also be dropped off at any of our other drop off locations found at www.westsidebaby.org.

We also collect carseat and booster seats that are in good condition, less than 6 years old and that have not been in an accident. We really need those carseats as well and we can accept them at the drop off locations.

The specific dropoff locations are listed on this page of the WestSide baby site.

16 Replies to "WestSide Baby needs your help now: Newborn-size diaper shortage!"

  • star September 17, 2008 (3:45 pm)

    Do they take cloth diapers?

  • Robert2715 September 17, 2008 (3:58 pm)

    I’ve donated to Westside Baby as well, but isn’t donating diapers rather inefficient? Seems like donating cash and have them buy them in huge bulks would make alot more sense than dozens of us buying them at a local store and dropping them off.

  • WSB September 17, 2008 (4:04 pm)

    They have to use disposables because of requirements in the licensed day cares where most of their clients have to leave their babies to go to work, among other things. Usually when they have diaper drives, we split the difference by buying the environmentally friendlier diapers at PCC (even found one such brand at a local drugstore, either Rite-Aid or Bartell).

  • ellenater September 17, 2008 (4:17 pm)

    my son’s class at OLG helps Westside Baby. I’m going to let his teacher know and maybe they can do something…

  • WSB September 17, 2008 (4:31 pm)

    Nancy may have something to say on that but in the short run, you can certainly donate money too – they have a PayPal link on this page:
    http://www.westsidebaby.org/content/financial_support.htm

  • GenHillOne September 17, 2008 (5:30 pm)

    This may be a very unpopular comment, but I find it disconcerting that there is a public request six weeks after a drive that netted 27,000 diapers (when the goal was 20,000). I know they give out TONS of diapers, but it doesn’t sound like they were surprised at the preponderance of size 1-4 and they must have a distribution plan of some sort…did something unexpected come up to create the need? Wasn’t there cash donated at the drive too? I’m not trying to sound like a jerk, just doesn’t make me feel very good about the previous effort if they already need help again.

  • WSB September 17, 2008 (5:51 pm)

    I think Nancy said it pretty clearly – they tend not to get as many newborn (and big) diapers in diaper drives. Also just a side note – the 20,000 goal was not ambitious – from advance coverage, I seem to recall that the feeling was that times are tough and 20,000 would be a great goal – In 2007, my archive indicates, they received 50,000.

  • Irukandji September 17, 2008 (7:41 pm)

    I’m in, and I’ll send a note to neighbors. HUZZAH for Red Cup letting us drop off diapers and/or money via drive through!

  • cruiser September 17, 2008 (8:32 pm)

    Genhillone,

    It’s not intended to make you feel good.

  • que September 17, 2008 (9:10 pm)

    Genhillone states, “Did something unexpected come up to create the need?”

    Have you been watching the recent economic news? These are hard economic times with the mortgage crisis and people losing much of their financial solid ground. This makes for more people who need help and more people who need diapers from WSB. Nancy and WSB to a terrific job helping lots of people in very trying times. If they say they need help, then they do. No question. Help if you can.

  • WestSide Baby September 17, 2008 (10:24 pm)

    WestSide Baby collects diapers from drives all year long. We supplement drives with purchased diapers but we fundraise to purchase those diapers. We distributed 240,000 diapers last year and we only expect that need to rise. It is correct that the immediate issue is specific to newborns because we had a gift card donated to buy $3500 in diapers at a local warehouse store (through Stuff the Bus efforts) but they do not carry Newborn sizes. We definitely are happy to have cash and then buy the diapers but amazingly, our savings isn’t much more than the average customer. We’re just as thrilled to have the packages as it saves a step. Truly, if you want to help we want it to be as easy for you as possible! Our distribution plan is to distribute as much as possible to as many children in need as possible as simply as possible. Need is a difficult thing to predict although, as mentioned, it will only rise in these times. For more information about diaper numbers, please e-mail info@westsidebaby.org and I can share a lot about our purchases, collections and distribution. Thanks for caring enough to comment everyone!

  • GenHillOne September 18, 2008 (7:11 am)

    I told you it might be unpopular. Look, I gave diapers in July, support many non-profits, and I get that times are tough. That’s why I asked what necessitated the urgent need in six weeks. And WSB answered that – perhaps something like “while we successfully beat our goal in July, our overall donations are down” would have been effective. I didn’t remember the stat of 50,000 collected in 2007, only the celebration of collecting 30% more than the goal in 2008.

    Obviously in tough times the need arises. It also means that it may be tougher for people to give and donor fatigue is high. This is one of the heartbreaking ironies in social services. Folks may be taking a more critical look at every line item in their budget. Just as they want to get the biggest bang for their buck at the grocery store, they want to be sure that their donations are managed responsibly and that what they CAN give is helping as much as possible. Again, the question was answered for this particular request…simply, donations are down and if we can help, they’d appreciate it. A fair request.

  • cruiser September 18, 2008 (10:19 am)

    G,

    People way well they a more critical look at where they donate(I never give to mail drops for eg). However I’m quite sure Westside manage their donations very well…after all there’s really only one use for diapers:)……..unless you got a secret to share:). Off to Costco to get some so I can stop talking about it.

  • add September 18, 2008 (12:10 pm)

    The other surprising thing is that people can’t use “food stamps” or WIC benefits for diapers. And as Nancy/WSBaby mentioned, it is nearly impossible to get “bulk pricing” or donations from manufacturers (believe me, they have tried). WSBaby has to buy retail most of the time themselves, they have volunteers whose sole job is to find the sales and buy as much as they can at the best price.

  • UnemployedMe September 18, 2008 (2:25 pm)

    I understand the need to help folks, but not support them. We could only financially afford to have one child. (I wanted more…) When I see people with multiple baby’s in a row continue to pop them out it angers me. The economy has not been great for quite a few years so why is it okay to continue having them?

    I have more comments on this that I will keep to myself

  • CMP September 19, 2008 (3:25 pm)

    I totally agree with UnemployedMe on this one and applaud their decision to only have one child since they understand the costs involved! Birth control is a lot more affordable than 2+ years of diapers. I guess I’m glad this is far down on the front page now so there won’t be a ton of criticisms rolling in on my viewpoint!

Sorry, comment time is over.