“My mom is truthfully so devastated, she’s so upset. She’s not excited at all for me to have a baby.”
Northwest Arkansas parents can now get free diapers for their little ones.
Thanks to a partnership between Community Clinic NWA and Family Network’s Diaper Collective, parents in the Northwest Arkansas community are now being handed free diapers at select well-child visits.
The diapers, which are funded by the National Diaper Bank Network’s Funds for Change grant, are being offered at newborn, one-month and two-month checkups, according to KNWA.
“Offering diapers at well-child visits can show families that not only are their health needs extremely important, their tangible needs are important as well, and healthcare providers and nonprofits want to step up to support them,” Audrey Zavaleta of Family Network said of the program, per KNWA.
Family Nework’s Diaper Collective formed in 2020 and became an official member of the National Diaper Bank Network in 2021, per its official website.
The organization “distributes more than 60,000 diapers each month,” according to KNWA, with the goal of helping families eliminate diaper need — which affects nearly half of all families in the United States.
The new pilot program, which is designed to incentivize parents to take their child in for well-child visits, is expected to run for 12 months with the potential for future expansion.
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According to the American Academy of Pediatrics well-child visit schedule, parents are encouraged to bring their children in for a checkup after one week, one month, two months, four months and six months.
Well-child visits should continue at nine months, one year, 15 months, 18 months and two years, per the AAP.
Where else can families in Northwest Arkansas get free diapers?
According to Diaper Collective’s website, Community Clinic isn’t the only place families can get free diapers in the NWA area.
The network also distributes diapers through various other partner agencies, including Bread of Life, The Manna Center, Grace United Methodist Church, St James Community Food Pantry and God’s Pantry.
An interactive map with locations and times can be found on their official website.
There are also other programs and initiatives across the country doing what they can to help families in dire situations.
In June, Bundles of Joy Baby Essentials hosted a free Community Baby Expo in North Charleston, South Carolina to support families in need of baby items and support services, per ABC News.
Attendees were given the opportunity to win free diapers, baby wipes and clothing as well as take part in raffles, community resources and free health screenings.
In August, the Mississippi State Department of Health threw a Community Baby Shower & Health Resource Fair for families in need of health and wellness resources.
Families had access to” free blood pressure, glucose, and HIV screenings; health workshops offering practical education; diapers and other family resources; giveaways; and much more,” per a press release.
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Mod Moms Club encourages parents across the nation to check for similar events happening in your local community.
