WestSide Baby will host its largest ever outreach event this coming Sunday, July 20 – the 14th annual Stuff the Bus diaper drive, with a bus parked and ready to be packed with donations at Burien Toyota/Scion.
The drive, which originated in West Seattle, has grown into a regional event with major donation sites in West Seattle, Burien and, for the first time ever, in Ballard.
School buses will be on hand at each major location from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 20 to collect donations, and supporters are encouraged to donate new or opened packages of diapers as well as hygiene items, such as wipes and diaper cream. The most needed diaper sizes are newborn, 5 and 6. Online giving is available at www.westsidebaby.org.
WestSide Baby hopes to collect 290,000 diapers through the event for children in need. More than 70 individuals and businesses are hosting diaper drives to help fill the buses, including more than a dozen HomeStreet Bank and AmericanWest Bank branches and 24 King County Safeway stores. These Safeway stores are also offering significant savings on diapers throughout the weekend. Several participating drivers are located in eastern King County, and WestSide Baby will partner with Issaquah’s Eastside Baby Corner to distribute diapers collected on the east side.
There are more than 10,000 children under the age of 3 living in poverty in King County. Many families are forced to choose between buying diapers and paying bills, as diapers are not covered by any government aid programs, including food stamps or Women, Infant and Children (WIC) programs. Babies who sit in dirty diapers are more likely to suffer infection, illness and abuse. These children will need at least 22 million diapers per year.
“We’re thrilled to be able to expand Stuff the Bus so much for 2014,” WestSide Baby Executive Director Nancy Woodland said. “The diaper drives in Ballard and on the east side will help provide much needed diapers and hygiene supplies to children in need in more places in King County.”
Learn more about the event and see a full list of drive locations at http://www.westsidebaby.org/news-and-events/stuff-bus-diaper-drive-2014.
The event follows a merger between WestSide Baby and St. Joseph’s Baby Corner, which will benefit thousands of children living in King County. The boards of directors from both agencies unanimously voted to merge the organizations, effective July 11, 2014.
WestSide Baby will continue to operate from its headquarters in White Center, and St. Joseph’s Baby Corner facility in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood will remain open under the leadership of WestSide Baby. Baby Corner will operate under the WestSide Baby name while continuing to honor the Baby Corner legacy.
The organizations have very compatible missions serving local children in need by collecting and distributing diapers, clothing and safety equipment, such as car seats and cribs. Both agencies have operated in partnership with established social service agencies, such as public health and food banks. Combining operations will immediately improve the service delivery to families. More diapers, clothing and safety equipment will reach more local families in need.
The resulting Board of Directors will include current WestSide Baby directors and additional directors from the Baby Corner Board.
Stuff the Bus locations:
- Burien: Burien Toyota Scion, 15025 1st Ave. S.
- West Seattle: HomeStreet Bank, 4022 S.W. Alaska St.
- Ballard: AmericanWest Bank, 2237 N.W. 57th St.
About WestSide Baby
WestSide Baby, in partnership with our community, provides essential items to local children in need by collecting and distributing diapers, clothing and equipment. In 2013, WestSide Baby distributed more than $1.8 million in goods to children up to size 12 serving more than 24,000 local children. More than 820,000 diapers and 5,100 clothing bags reached families in King County through WestSide Baby in 2013. By partnering with over 90 established social service agencies, we are able to focus simply on the items children need to thrive while trained professionals can address other issues to give families a hand in a time of need.