Physical Health United States Project #54537

Make Cloth Diapering Accessible for US Families

by Jake's Network of Hope

Project Report | Aug 2, 2023
Impact of Your Generous Donations to Jake's Campai

By Jenn Harper | Development Director

We hope this update finds you well and filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment. We are writing to express our heartfelt gratitude for your generous donations to Jake's Campaign, "Make Cloth Diapering Accessible for US Families." Your support has been instrumental in our mission to provide families with a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to disposable diapers, promoting environmental consciousness while ensuring the well-being of children across the United States.

We are thrilled to share with you the remarkable impact of your contributions on countless families, as well as the environment. Your support has truly made a difference in the lives of many, and we are deeply grateful for your dedication to our cause.

Through your generous donations, we have been able to:

Provide Cloth Diapers to Needy Families: Your contributions have allowed us to distribute cloth diapering kits to families facing financial hardships. These kits include high-quality cloth diapers, inserts, and accessories, offering a reliable and sustainable solution for diapering their little ones.
Offer Educational Resources: Your support has enabled us to develop educational materials and workshops to educate parents and caregivers about the benefits of cloth diapering. By empowering families with knowledge and skills, we encourage long-term adoption and reduce landfill waste.
Promote Environmental Stewardship: By choosing cloth diapering over disposables, families have collectively reduced their environmental footprint. Your donations have directly contributed to conserving natural resources and minimizing landfill waste, fostering a cleaner and healthier planet for future generations.
Raise Awareness: Your support has been vital in raising awareness about cloth diapering and its positive impact on the environment and public health. By sharing success stories and promoting the benefits of cloth diapering, we continue to inspire others to join our movement.
Create a Supportive Community: Your donations have helped us build a network of cloth diapering supporters, providing a sense of community and encouragement for families embarking on this journey. This network ensures that families have access to valuable resources and support throughout their cloth diapering experience.

It is with great joy that we acknowledge the collective effort of our donors in driving change and making cloth diapering accessible to more families across the United States. Your generosity has given families the tools they need to care for their children while taking positive steps towards a sustainable future.

As we move forward with our campaign, we assure you that your contributions will continue to have a lasting impact on the lives of families and the environment. Your belief in our cause inspires us to work tirelessly towards achieving our vision of a more eco-friendly and supportive world for all.

Once again, we extend our heartfelt thanks for your generosity and partnership. Your support is the cornerstone of our success, and we look forward to keeping you informed about our progress and the transformative changes we bring about together.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about the ongoing initiatives, please do not hesitate to contact us. We value your support and trust in our organization.

Links:

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Apr 6, 2023
How Hygiene Made a Difference in 2022

By Lyssa Schmidt | Grants Manager

For Jake’s, 2022 was filled with much to be proud of and excited about. We began the year by welcoming our new executive director, Scott Sawinski. We also expanded our list of partners from less than 90 to more than 200 by the end of the year (by the way, we’re up to 250 and counting!

This means that our work has been able to reach (and support) more diverse community needs, from foster care to after school programs, family needs and domestic abuse shelters, refugee work, poverty support, health programs, etc.

In total, we surpassed ONE MILLION total products distributed in 2022 for a total of 1,053,505 products. We spent reflecting on all the work that we accomplished throughout the year, thanks to your support.

Keeping Babies Safe, Dry, and Healthy

Through our East Wisconsin Diaper Bank, National Cloth Network and Global Cloth Network, Jake’s has distributed 554,821 diapers to partners. These diapers have supported 12,885 children and babies.

“Parents are their child’s first and most important teacher. (From Jake’s, we use) diapers, wipes and feminine hygiene products. These items are expensive, and being able to help provide these to families allows them to spend their money on other necessities.” — Kelly Hinz of Parent Connection

Creating Equal Access to Period Product

Our On The Dot Program provides dignity for girls and women through equality and access to period products. So far in 2022, we have distributed 129,352 period products which have supported 5,442 girls and women.

“We are providing free period products in our bathrooms for high school students. This is very helpful to keep them in school during this time for them.” — Kelly Wick, Appleton Area School district/Appleton East High school

“Our intermediate female students now have a locker designated for period products that they can access at any time they need. The products in the locker came from Jake’s Network! We have already had students use the locker.” — Leah Zwiers, Jefferson Elementary School, AASD

“Children feel more confident to attend and engage with peers when they are well groomed and cared for at home!” — Mackenzie Harness, Oshkosh Area School District – Ready 4 Learning

Helping Older Adults Maintain a High Quality of Life

One in three adults are dealing with some form of bladder control issues today, and two in three people will have incontinence during their lifetimes. There’s a social stigma around the issue, adding to the difficulty in dealing with it. In 2022, we have distributed 336,128 ACE products to partners. These products have improved the enjoyment of life for 10,143 individuals.

“Our seniors feel that by asking for their incontinence products, they feel more secure not having to ration when they need to use them. A lot of the seniors can’t afford what they need with how many they go through a day, so this is a huge help to them to call and get these sent to them with their meals we supply them with.” — Amanda Wiechman, ADVOCAP’s Outreach Specialist

Supporting diverse basic needs through My Neighbor and our Hope Hub

Our My Neighbor program is our most diverse basic needs program. This program was established in 2019 based on demand to provide even more basic living goods to people in need in our community, at the request of numerous partner agencies and really established its presence over the past year. The goal of this program is to provide for other needs that community partners are serving, while creating financial savings for our partners which in turn creates a revenue stream that supports our hygiene programs.

For example, a partner could browse the Hope Hub to find items for adopt-a-family type projects, including bedding, toys, kitchenware, hygiene items and more; OR, teachers can browse and stock supplies they need for classrooms or school projects; OR pregnancy agencies can stop by and pickup items that expectant parents will need, from furnishing a nursery to stuffing a diaper bag and more.

All items from My Neighbor and the Hope Hub are provided at sharing fees to partners – which on average cost about 25% of retail value. The sharing fees from this program also support the operations that help us provide all the hygiene products (diapers, period products and incontinence supplies) at no cost to these same partners. This is a major win for our community, partners and the people they serve.

By the Numbers

Total products: 1,053,505
Total lives: 29,594
Total diapers: 554,821
Total children + babies diapered: 12,885
Total period products: 129,352
Total girls + women served: 5,442
Total ACE products: 336,128
Total people served through ACE: 10,143
Total cloth diapers: 5,163
Total individuals served with cloth: 345
Total retail value saved via My Neighbor: $600,000

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Dec 7, 2022
Hygiene Products Provide Hope in Crisis

By Lyssa Schmidt | Development Director

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