Chesterfield diaper drive is in need of donations

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Chesterfield County is holding its 12th annual diaper drive, with a goal of collecting 55,000 diapers to support families in need.

"Right now, we have about 20,000,” said Leslie Pakula, Chesterfield’s Infant and Toddler Connection Program Manager, when speaking to 8News on Wednesday, March 19.

Pakula said the drive ends on April 4. Last year, the county was not able to meet its goal.

“The economy has made it so that it's harder and harder for families to afford diapers," Pakula said. "I think, when [COVID-19] hit, a lot of families weren't working, and it just became harder."

Recipients must be enrolled in either the Families First or Infant and Toddler Connection programs to receive diapers from the drive.

"It's very difficult for a lot of families to maintain a very stable income, or income that they can use for necessities -- which, a lot of the times, is just the bare minimum [for] food, clothing,” said Claudio Bustillo, who works with Families First.

Bustillo said they do in-home visits. Most babies need around 10 diapers a day, depending on their age -- adding to the already high cost of raising a child.

According to ABC News, baby-related expenses can exceed $20,000 in a single year.

Pakula said that, since the diaper drive began 12 years ago, demand has only increased.

“Children need diapers every single day, no matter what,” she said. “We see families who have children who have a lot of medical needs, who may have a ventilator or a feeding tube. And that's why it's so important that we can offer this diaper drive, to give them [means] to help alleviate some of those stressors.”

While recipients must be enrolled in one of those two related programs, anyone in the community can contribute to the effort by dropping off supplies at any Chesterfield Public Library branch. You can also find an Amazon Wishlist here.

More information on donating and receiving diapers can be found here.