Rash of support covers HomeFront Challenge
A HomeFront Diaper Challenge dealing with the bare necessities of life and infants achieved amazing success.
In a scene that resembled a game show with Chief Operating Officer Sarah Steward as emcee, prizes behind all three white bay doors on the HomeFront Campus in Ewing offered similar booty items — diapers and wipes for HomeFront and back protection.
HomeFront which had set a goal for the collection of 250,000 diapers then reset that modest mark to 500,000, scored more than one million items.
New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy said diapers serve “as a lifeline” for families.
“Especially for those hit hard by the pandemic. The financial relief this reliable source of diapers and wipes provide can make a world of difference,” Murphy noted.
“It’s extraordinary that HomeFront collected over 300,000 diapers in, I believe, in the last week or so ..... This is beyond wonderful. I genuinely salute and am grateful for all those who played a role here for making this such a success.”
As usual, Mercer County, an altruistic section of western Nee Jersey, showered HomeFront with donations that paid for the diapers that filled the Diaper Resource Center.
Amazingly, as pandemic challenges subside, many families that barely survived COVID-19 issues, face additional issues.
This social formula works for most crises — if middle America struggles with financial problems then the plight of people further down the ladder face significantly worse issues.
Diapers cost on average $80 per month per child and consumer experts predict increased cost for disposable diapers.
Economists expects Huggies and Pull-Ups will increase prices by June while Procter & Gamble— which manufactures Pampers, Luvs and All Good diapers — follow suit in September. Cost will undoubtedly be felt by consumers.
While a financial challenge awaits most households, both physical and emotional fallout occurs without ample supply of disposable diapers.
HomeFront Executive Director Connie Mercer delivered this insight during the Diaper Challenge.
“We have seen the most horrific cases of diaper rash because women and men change on a set schedule as opposed to when there’s need because they just don’t have enough,” Mercer said.
“The kind of shame that women feel, that a parent feels, when they can’t keep baby clean is overwhelming.”
Mercer called diapers a “huge stressor for families on a tight budget.”
Last year HomeFront distributed
630K+ diapers and wipes to the community. The non-profit partners with other local nonprofits to provide them with diapers for distribution.
HomeFront has covered more than just baby bottoms in 30 years.
During the pandemic, HomeFront provided over $740K in rental assistance, provided dignified housing for 536 individuals (most
of them children), and distributed over half a million meals, while continuing its jobs, education, children’s programs and other outreaches.
Miracle Charles, 24, a Trenton resident almost seven months removed from capital city life, finds solace and comfort for herself and toddler son, Jayce.
“Since coming here, I’ve been able to change a
lot in my life. Being away from old situations has helped,” Charles said.
“Here, there’s quiet, support, structure, self-improvement. And getting to know yourself, it’s been so important during my journey.”