FROM STAFF REPORTS

The Junior League of Birmingham – an organization of more than 2,200-women providing 55,000-plus volunteer hours annually across 38 community projects and $1 million in direct funding to the Birmingham community – will hold its Third Annual Diaper Drive Monday, Sept. 24 through Saturday, Sept. 29, during Diaper Need Awareness Week, at participating locations throughout the Birmingham area.

JLB Diaper Bank donation bins will be at select iBERIABANK locations in the Birmingham area: Crestline, Downtown, Fultondale, Grandview, Hoover, Mountain Brook, Pelham, Vestavia and Woodcrest (Homewood), as well as Kid’s Market and Mom on Crestwood Blvd. in Irondale; Covenant Classical Schools in Trace Crossings, Valleydale, and Greystone.

All locations will accept diapers Sept. 24-30 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Diaper Drives will help stock the JLB Diaper Bank, which distributes thousands of diapers each month to 230 vetted organizations. The JLB has partnered with the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama to store the diapers and vet the organizations that receive diapers through the JLB Diaper Bank.

“Our 2017 Diaper Drive garnered approximately 28,374 donations, and we hope our generous community members support us again in the coming weeks,” said Kristen Lamb, JLB Diaper Bank Chair. “One in three U.S. mothers report suffering from diaper need, and this need is critical in and around the Greater Birmingham Area – physically affecting infants and toddlers and mentally affecting parents and caregivers.”

Research shows 32 percent of children under the age of 3 live below the poverty line, while 26 percent of Alabama Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Funding recipients are infants. Roughly one-third of Alabama children are likely to benefit from diaper donations – which is on par with the national average.

“We urge capable families throughout the Birmingham area to support this initiative and to provide diapers to women and children unable to purchase diapers themselves,” said Lamb.

For more information on Diaper Need Awareness Week, the upcoming Diaper Drive, or to learn more about the JLB Diaper Bank, visit JLBOnline.com/Diaper-Bank/.