McHenry church leader touts diaper bank plan
By CRYSTAL LINDELL - clindell@nwherald.com
McHENRY – The Rev. Jim Swarthout knows that diapers might not be the first thing people think about when considering charity needs, but that doesn’t meant they aren’t important.
That’s why the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church priest plans to start the St. Paul Partnership Diapers Bank of McHenry County, which would supply diapers and disposable undergarments for both infants and the elderly or disabled.
“An infant can use up to 12 diapers a day,” he said. “That’s up to $130 a month, and for a family that’s out of work, for one child, [that’s a lot].”
Swarthout said the diaper bank would be the first of its kind in Illinois. He hopes initially to supply diapers to a handful of local social service agencies, such as Family Alliance, the Youth Service Bureau, the Family Health Partnership Clinic, and Tri-County Pregnancy and Parenting Services, and then expand.
“What we are trying to do is to bring up the level of awareness,” he said.
If all goes well, the organization would start collecting diapers in July and then be ready to start distributing them by Sept. 1.
The group also plans to start a Web site, where people could donate to the cause.
Swarthout said it was important to remember that it’s not just infants who need diapers; at least 20 percent of diaper bank clients are the elderly or people with disabilities.
Cheryl Levinson, clinical director for Family Alliance, which serves adults 55 and older, said she was excited about the possibilities of the program for her clients.
“We all need to start reaching out,” she said. “It’s those little things that add up and make it hard to make ends meet.”
