SPOKANE, Wash. — There are plenty of things to love about spring: warmth, flowers, and overall a sense of renewal. But I suppose one of my favorite parts of the season is the annual KREM Cares Diaper Drive. It's a special experience for my friends and me here at KREM.
The event is in its 16th year, and we all know that it serves a significant purpose. It’s our way to collectively support families, help children, and make many homes happier. Financial stress takes a toll on parents who face the challenges of buying diapers, formula, wipes, and clothing with sizing that seems to change by the minute. We chose to focus on diapers because it’s a necessity that all parents will face and that is consistently expensive. When partnering with folks at Vanessa Behan, we're told that by eliminating some financial stress, we can do our part to make healthier families and lessen stress.
The diaper drive also has such a personal connection for me as well. We launched our first KREM Cares Diaper Drive when my daughter Izzy was a newborn. Being a mom that was surrounded by support I couldn’t imagine not having the tools to be at my best for our daughter Izzy. After talking with leaders at Vanessa Behan, our local heroes (that’s how I think of them!) that provide emergent daycare and services for parents, I realized that by providing diapers we could be part of the solution to strengthen families and protect kids. I launched in that first year with our partners at Rosauers and Washington Trust just hoping to provide a few hundred diapers.
History of KREM Cares Diaper Drive
Now, fast-forward 16 years later. Izzy is 16 years old and can reflect on being an effort to supply diapers throughout the year for families that need the help.
"I think it's pretty cool. Most people can't say that they have something that started after them that helps people. So I think that's really cool to be the motivation behind that,” says Izzy. Her earliest memories involve volunteering at Rosauers and distributing flyers for the diaper drive—a testament to the community spirit embedded in this project.
What began as a modest effort has burgeoned into something remarkable. Over two and a half million diapers have been donated to families in our community, and I couldn’t be more proud of our community.
The goal for this year? Realistically, it’s to grow it. We need to do more. Simply put, our families are facing overwhelming financial stress. We need your help. In all these years of raising funds, we know the generosity that exists at the heart of the Inland Northwest. And I hate to ask people to stretch already taxed budgets. But, with the help of Rosauers, we have been able to maintain the $10 price of a KREM Cares Diaper Drive bag.
We ask that you help us continue the tradition of providing diapers. Yes. But we are really asking that you help us keep our kids safe and allow parents to be the best they can be at parenting. It’s a tradition that will help us create a better future for thousands of kids.
RELATED: KREM Cares Diaper Drive 2024 | FAQ
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