Greater Fredericksburg Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. hosted a Community Diaper Drive-Thru Communi

(SPOTSYLVANIA, VA) The Greater Fredericksburg Chapter of Jack and Jill (GFCJJ) recently held a highly impactful Community Diaper Drive in partnership with Healthy Families Rappahannock Area (HFRA). This event made a huge difference by collecting over 3,500 diapers in a variety of sizes, all destined for families in need throughout the Fredericksburg area.

The diapers collected during the GFCJJ Community Diaper Drive will be distributed directly to families in need, thanks to the dedicated efforts of our community partner, Healthy Families Rappahannock Area. HFRA plays a crucial role not only in distributing these diapers but also in connecting families with other vital resources and services they may require.

Understanding and addressing diaper needs are essential for ensuring the health of our children and the stability of families. The realities of diaper needs can greatly impact both physical health and the overall well-being of families in our community.

Here are some key insights into these challenges:

• Diapers are costly--families can spend over $100 each month on them, and half of American households struggle to afford enough.
• Many childcare centers require parents to supply diapers each day their child attends. Without diapers, babies can't attend daycare, preventing parents from working.
• Lack of access to clean diapers can have profound effects: Babies face potential health risks and toxic stress, which can lead to daycare refusal, directly impacting a mother’s ability to work.
• An adequate supply of diapers may prove to be a tangible way of reducing parenting stress, thereby improving child outcomes.
• According to the National Diaper Bank Network, parents miss an average of 5.1 workdays per month due to diaper shortages, equating to an estimated $300 in lost wages for those earning minimum wage.

ABOUT THE GREATER FREDERICKSBURG CHAPTER OF JACK AND JILL OF AMERICA, INC.

The Greater Fredericksburg Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. chartered in 2016, is part of the Mid-Atlantic Region, which includes 33 chapters in the states of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Jack and Jill of America, Inc. is an organization founded in 1938 with the mission of stimulating the growth and development of African American children through educational, cultural, civic, recreational, health and social programs inspired by mothers. The organization consists of more than 70,000 family members which includes, mother members, fathers and children ages 2 through 19. To learn more about Jack and Jill of America, Inc., please visit www.jackandjillinc.org.

ABOUT HEALTHY FAMILIES RAPPAHANNOCK AREA

Healthy Families Rappahannock Area (HFRA) is a living, breathing manual that offers a nationally accredited program providing regular home visits to promote positive parenting, improve childhood outcomes, and increase family self-sufficiency through education and community support. Parents participate in home visits so they can learn how to recognize and respond to their babies’ changing developmental needs, use positive discipline techniques, cope with the day-to-day stress of parenting in healthy ways, and set and achieve family goals. For more information about Healthy Families Rappahannock Area, please visit https://healthyfamiliesrappahannock.org.