Veteran Raises Resources for Local Families

Johnnie Mitchell, a Vietnam Veteran, continues tradition with a successful second annual “For the Children” diaper drive during December 

Jeannie Parker, Johnnie Mitchell and Martha Lewis with diaper drive donations.

As a resident in the Norman Veterans Center, Johnnie Mitchell began looking for ways to make a positive impact two years ago. Upon hearing about the Center for Children and Families, Inc. (CCFI) diaper drive opportunity he knew how he wanted to make a difference.

“I am a parent and I remember(ed) how difficult it was for my family to have a good supply of diapers,” said Mitchell. “With the economy the way it is, I figured this is something that people really need this time of year.”

'For the Children' Display at NVC

With the help of fellow Veterans, staff members and visitors to the Norman Veterans Center, Johnnie’s ‘For the Children’ diaper drive resulted in more than 1,400 diapers for CCFI’s diaper closet, which is open to the public.

“Everyone thinks of food, clothes and toys during the holidays, but diapers just aren’t brought up enough,” he said. “I am more than happy to help and very proud of the teamwork to make this happen.”

This is the second year Johnnie has coordinated the ‘For the Children’ Diaper Drive and says he is constantly thinking of ways to increase donations and keep the tradition going.Click here to read about the first 'For the Children' Diaper Drive.

How Cookies and Cupcakes Led to Contributions

First Presbyterian's Circle Four Women's Group: Cookie Exchangg

Back in November, I attended a “tour” of CCFI at our church, First Presbyterian, presented by Katie Fitzgerald.  Katie spoke with such passion about the neglected and abused children here in our own community that I couldn’t help but be moved by the needs of these children in Norman.  When I heard about the benefit event cupcake parties, I was impressed not only with the idea of having people bring a CCFI donation item to our Christmas cookie exchange, but also with how easy the food preparation would be with the assistance of CCFI’s cupcake program.  Since bakeries around Norman agree to donate cupcakes to CCFI for benefit parties, the baking was already done! 

The best part of making my Christmas cookie exchange a CCFI benefit event was seeing how people can band together to help others.  The ladies of First Presbyterian’s Circle Four women’s group loved helping mothers and children in Norman.  A simple gathering of church ladies for Christmas produced amazing results for CCFI!  While I know that our contributions are merely a drop in the bucket of what CCFI may need, it was wonderful to see how contributing to a cause brought all of us together.  And, I know that our efforts are greatly appreciated.

CCFI works in our own community to improve the lives of children and parents.  I love how they fight for children and work to root out the causes of childhood neglect and abuse through counseling, programming, and nurturing and providing for children’s’ basic needs.  I highly recommend that others use the CCFI’s benefit event program and have cupcake parties of their own!  It couldn’t be easier, and it couldn’t be more rewarding.

- Written by Connie Hall [with Rebecca Davis]

Falalalalalalala!

Holiday Gifting Program 2010 

Some of the Holiday Helpers!

During the holidays at CCFI we have a Holiday Gifting Program for families in our services. This year nearly 300 children were provided with presents to unwrap due to the outpouring of support from local businesses and residents from throughout Cleveland County and the surrounding areas.
 
As the donations and presents began to pile up, we began recruiting elves and holiday helpers to get all the gifts packed and ready for our program staff to deliver.

With much gratitude, all of us at CCFI, and especially the children and families that we serve, thank you for your support and for making a difference during this holiday season.
    

How your gifts made a difference...  

Staff members shared many quotes and stories from the children and families who received gifts this holiday season. Below are some excerpts:

Lead Holiday Helper, Kristi!

 

Before delivering the gifts to her home, we learned that one young single mother had just recently lost her job and was really concerned about being able to purchase gifts for her children. When we carried the gifts up to her apartment and she saw the bags full of beautiful gifts for her four children, she got misty-eyed as she hugged us and said "I can't wait to see their faces light up on Christmas morning... I was so afraid I was going to miss that this year."

One particular grandma, whose raising her 6yr old son alone, on a single income got teary eyed as we gave her the gifts saying “you don’t know how much this mean’s to me.”.

One mom said, I’m so appreciative that you guys are doing this, you don’t know how much this means to me!

A single mother who is a full-time student was overwhelmed with joy when presents for her middle school age daughter arrived.  She had recently been hospitalized and had not been able to purchase Christmas presents. She stated that she was “so thankful for everything” and that her daughter would all the gifts.

Katie and a few Holiday donors!

"Six months ago a dad of some kids in my program lost his job. He was really unsure and worried about being able to give his children gifts this season. He was incredibly grateful and told us over and over again how much it meant to him as a father. I think he was relieved that his children's holidays were going to be happy."

 

“Is all that for us?”

 

"A mom struggling to make ends meet told us that we made her wishes come true because it is really hard to buy the things her children want during the holidays. She told us there wasn't any more stress and she could now enjoy Christmas."

Thank you to all our holiday gift donors, helpers, and volunteers for helping make this holiday special for the children and families we serve!

Jack's Celebration

Jack and his friend, Kira, Celebrating their CAKE par

For most 8-year-olds, tearing open countless presents from family and friends usually only happens during the holidays and on birthdays. But that was not the case for one boy, who requested that his guests bring gifts for others during his CAKE (Celebrating Adopted Kids, Everyday!) celebration during November.

As a young philanthropist, Jack Flax is inspired by his parents, Troy and Jenny, to give back to the community and saw their CAKE celebration as a way to inspire others.

“We really wanted Jack to do something special not only for himself, but for others as well,” said Jack’s mother, Jenny. “We invited all our friends with adopted children to the CAKE party and made it a benefit party for CCFI. I think helping a local agency made it even more special for us, the guests and especially for Jack.”

Jack's cake, it says: "Happy Adoption Day Jack"

Jack and his friends and family raised over 250 diapers at their party last month, all of which went to the CCFI public diaper and formula closet.  The Flax family believes that philanthropy starts young and that learning to help others at an early age truly makes a difference. Here at CCFI we couldn’t agree more. Teaching young children to perform great acts of kindness, such as this, is an important life skill. Children, like Jack, are our future generation of volunteers and supporters and we are beginning to see younger philanthropists each year.

Jack’s mother, who’s been active in several of her own philanthropic adventures, couldn’t be more pleased. “Whatever your situation in life, there’s almost always someone who has it a little tougher than you do,” Jenny said. “I think that getting kids to understand about donating and giving back when they are young really makes a difference.”

Jack agreed and said, “It’s a really fun way to help and have fun with my friends!”

Getting to the Bottom of it

Any parent will tell you it is a terrible inconvenience to run out to the drugstore late at night because you ran out of diapers. But this occasional inconvenience is nothing compared to the crisis unfolding across the nation for families who are unable to provide their children with an adequate supply of diapers.

The Facts

• Safety-net programs such as the SNAP (formerly food stamp program) and WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) do not cover the cost of diapers. 

• An adequate supply of diapers can cost over $100 per month. 

• The vast majority of licensed day care centers do not accept cloth diapers, and require parents and caregivers to provide a steady supply of disposable diapers.

• Most people living in poverty do not have affordable access to washing facilities. Furthermore, most coin-operated laundromats do not allow customers to wash cloth diapers for health and sanitary reasons.

The Impacts

• In poor and low-income families, a baby can spend a day or longer in one diaper, leading to potential health and abuse risks.

• Low-income parents cannot take advantage of free or subsidized childcare if they cannot afford to leave disposable diapers at childcare centers. If parents cannot access daycare, then they are less able to attend work or school on a consistent basis. This in turn leads to increased economic instability and a continuation of the cycle of poverty.

• Without transportation, buying diapers at an inner city convenience store rather than a large retailer can double or triple the monthly cost for diapers. Many parents are already struggling to pay for rent and food and simply cannot afford the high cost of an adequate supply of diapers for their children.

Keeping Children Healthy, Helping Families Become Self Sufficient

Every baby deserves a clean diaper. Children left for extended periods of time in dirty diapers are at a higher risk for health problems including severe diaper rash, urinary tract infections, jaundice, and even staph infections.  Babies left in soiled diapers are more likely to cry from discomfort, which can increase caregiver stress and parental depression. In extreme cases, this type of stress on a family unit may lead to child neglect and abuse.

Lacking a steady access to diapers may also result in a family’s inability to participate in childcare programs, school, and even regular employment. We know that early childhood learning and development are critical to at-risk children.

The majority of early care and education programs, including free or subsidized programs like Early Head Start, require parents to provide disposable diapers prior to entering the program. If a caregiver is unable to meet this requirement, they may not be able to participate in regular employment or job training programs – essential factors in a family’s ability to be self sufficient.

Donating diapers to low-income families might be the best gift of all.

No matter a mother’s financial standing, marital status, ethnicity, or education- each one of them sees changing their child’s diaper as a wonderful act of love for their baby. The experience of diapering is a channel for connection and love, as well as a source of confidence and pride for mothers. For mothers living in hardship, this sentiment is felt even stronger when they are able to give their babies a clean diaper as this basic necessity can be a struggle to come by. 

CCFI Public Diaper and Formula Closet.

Unfortunately, diapers are often a forgotten basic need that is lacking not only during the holidays, but year round. It’s always fun to donate toys during the holiday and is greatly appreciated by the staff, children and families at the Center for Children and Families, Inc. (CCFI) and other organizations alike; but for many families in need, diapers are hard to come by and many shelters and family resource centers have diapers at the top of their wish lists, including CCFI.

One of the biggest needs of those living below the poverty line is diapers and government programs do not provide funding for personal care items- including diapers. In Oklahoma, 25% of all babies are born into poverty (Annie E. Casey Foundation). In Norman poverty is steadily increasing. Ten years ago (2000), 27% of the Norman Public School population was eligible for free and reduced lunch. Today (2010) that number is 42%*.

Some families have to compromise on necessities like food and heating to be able to afford diapers. In addition, there are some parents who can only afford a few diapers a day for their children and may sometimes have to re-use soiled disposable diapers. During the holiday months, staying warm and having the financial stresses of gift giving can overwhelm families with diaper need.

So when you’re out and about doing your holiday shopping, why not buy an extra pack or case of diapers or a can of formula to donate to your local diaper closet and help families in need?

__________________________________________________________

* data from Norman Public Schools

Want more information? Wondering about reusable diapers? Want to know why it’s such a struggle for parents faced with diaper need? Read these articles: Basic Need for the Poor: Diapers and Mother, Can You Spare a Dime?

The Bare Necessity

Over the next few weeks we’d like to shed some light on a common necessity that is often overlooked, something that we all have either worn, purchased or changed: Diapers.

CCFI Public Diaper and Formula Closet.

A recent study from Huggies found that 55% of U.S. mothers have never before thought about the problem of caregivers in their community not having enough diapers for their children’s daily needs. However, compromising on necessities and only having a few diapers for a given day is more common than we think.
.

Keeping a child in a clean diaper is a struggle for less fortunate families. Each day in Oklahoma caregivers are faced with the unfortunate decision of having to choose one basic necessity over another. When families have trouble providing diapers, there are typically few places they can turn for help. Many community based organizations and food banks don't usually carry diapers and government-based support programs do not allow for the purchase of diapers.

.
Mothers report that keeping their child in a clean diaper is one of the most important things they do for their child. No matter a mother’s financial standing, marital status, ethnicity, or education- each one of them sees changing their child’s diaper as a wonderful act of love for their baby. For mothers living in hardship, this sentiment is felt even stronger when they are able to give their babies a clean diaper as this basic necessity can be a struggle to come by.

.
With the help of community members, we have been able to keep the Center's Baby Pantry open to the public for more than 20 years. In the past year, we have given over 3,000 diapers and 350 cans of formula to families in need in the Norman community.