No act of kindness is too small.

Many stories come to us through our front doors, and for all of those who have helped a little bottom by donating to our Baby Pantry, THIS is your impact: 

Dear Center for Children and Families,

Last winter, about every other week, I came to get pull-ups from your Baby Pantry for my grandson.  I was out of work and felt really ashamed that I had to do this and I got really down on myself.  But, at your agency there is a pretty lady that always greets me and gets me diapers and wipes when I come in for a little help. I told her how embarrassed I was and she assured me that ‘it’s okay, everyone needs help sometimes.’  She has always been nothing but nice to me and even took the time to walk me to the unemployment office one day.  

(not an actual client pictured above)

During February of last year, I was really depressed and was ready to give up on life and leave my daughter and her son to get along without me.  The lady that sits up front had roses on her desk for Valentine’s Day that I could smell as soon as I walked in the front doors. I commented on how great they smelled and told her no one had ever given me flowers before. She looked me in the eyes, gave me one of her roses and told me I was special. Nobody has ever treated me that nicely before and I really think she was my miracle because that simple act made me feel like it was all worth it. 

Some time has passed since then and I go to counseling now. I have come a long way and got through some rough times because of the nice people at the Center for Children and Families.  Someday, when I have more money, I am going to bring pull-ups and a flower to repay you guys.  In the mean time, thank you for your help. It means the world to me, and others that need it, to have your help.

-D

To learn more about our Baby Pantry services, click here.

Bottoms up.



CCFI Baby Pantry



Imagine everything it takes to be a parent.
Now imagine it without diapers.

Many families struggle to provide basic needs for their children. In fact, one in three mothers will struggle to provide clean, dry diapers for their babies. Contrary to popular belief, government programs do not assist with paper products, including diapers, and many daycare and child care agencies will only accept disposable diapers. With that said it becomes a difficult situation, and often times a choice, for parents struggling to make ends meet.

However, the Center for Children and Families, Inc.’s (CCFI) Baby Pantry assists parents in being able to meet these essential needs. One of our core organizational beliefs here at CCFI is that all parents need help and should never be ashamed to ask for advice, diapers or support. We see caregivers that seek help in raising their children every day at CCFI and know it is a sign of maturity and hope – never failure.
Anytime you can help lessen stress and assist families in being successful parents you are teaching them valuable skills.  Stressed parents do not always make positive decisions. By offering support and hope we are providing the opportunity for parents to have one less stressor in their lives.  Sometimes it helps just knowing that someone cares…and is there when you need them the most. Our Baby Pantry serves that role and is there for when parents need it the most.

At CCFI we’ve been fortunate to stock our Baby Pantry entirely on community donations and provided thousands of parents with nearly 40,000 diapers and hundreds of essential items (baby wipes, formula and cereal) in 2011. If we can provide support, encouragement and hope to families by allowing them to focus on the more important areas of parenting, like the relationship with their little ones, then it’s truly a benefit for the parent, child and the family as a whole, all of which transcends into a healthier community.

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.

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.

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.
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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.

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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.

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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.