CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — If you buy diapers for your child, you know the cost really adds up, and it’s why Chesapeake Regional Healthcare is holding a diaper giveaway this Saturday.
Organizers say they got the idea when they teamed up with the Fatherhood Foundation to give away diapers to dads in the community in December.
“It it was so humbling to know that it started at nine,” said Shannon Roberts, director of women’s services for Chesapeake Regional. It was Dec. 21. It was cold. These dads brought their children. So, we had little teeny ones. They wrapped around our Lifestyle Center, and when we had to go out by 10:15 to tell, still everyone wrapped around lifestyle that unfortunately we were out, there was not one negative comment made by them. The question was, ‘Would you consider doing this again?’
“They were there starting at 7:30. I mean, it was very humbling for me to see that they showed up for that. My partner in crime, Keiara Carter, we stayed there until 12 because people were still coming. They came from across the water, Richmond area. So, I know the need is there, and once we saw that, our Chesapeake Regional Health Foundation helped support that drive. They were like, ‘We can do this, Shannon, even on a larger scale. … we absolutely can.’ Our goal is to continue to do this, if we do it once a year, and we’ll still partner every year with Fatherhood Foundation for our dads.”
Roberts said Saturday’s diaper distribution is for moms, dads and any caretaker of children. You will receive a one month supply of diapers for free, courtesy of EveryLife Diapers, but your children have to be with you so you can get the proper size. Sizes newborn-6 will be given out. There will also be other family resources at the event for those who need them.
“CHIP [and] Healthy Families will be there to provide their resources,” Roberts said. “We’ll have representation from the local foodbank. We’ll have baby care and WIC for those that might need extra support with formula and things such as that.”
The diaper drive will be held behind the Lifestyle Health and Fitness Center at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center rain or shine. The address is 800 Battlefield Blvd. N. in Chesapeake.
