#savethebabies: Help Children Rise out of Poverty

An average American middle class family seems like a group of people who would generally experience a quality life in our developed, modern country. 

Yet, news reports continue to show time and again that many people in this bracket struggle to get by. 

For example, the median salary of a male worker in the United States is no longer enough to cover the cost of living for a family of four, according to Business Insider. Comparatively, in 1985 the typical male worker needed 30 weeks' pay to cover those average costs.

The scene is similar in Australia, where news articles report discouraging increases in poverty, while incomes stagnate and living costs soar.

“Generally most of our receivers are normal everyday families just struggling to make ends meet,” said Samantha of Cloth Nappies for Charity, one of Jake’s Diapers Diaper Drop partners in Australia. “(Many people we help struggle with) poverty due to unemployment, drought or other natural disasters such as the recent bushfire events. These people struggle to live with very little money so therefore don’t need the added expense of nappies.”

The recent fires devastated the country, and in the worst hit areas estimates report more than 2,000 homes destroyed. Cloth Nappies for Charity leveraged the increased supply from Jakes Diapers to be able to support those with ongoing need as well as the increased need from situational poverty caused by fires.

“Recently, we provided nappies to a disaster relief group to provide families affected by the horrific bushfires,” Samantha said. “Many towns were devastated and many lost their homes as well as family members so are left to rebuild their lives. The products donated by Jake’s have allowed us to up packages to be distributed to families in and around bushfire zones that have been affected. These packages are being delivered through a local disaster relief fund and has put less of a strain on our local resources that at times can be stretched rather thinly.”

Green Bay nonprofit and Jake’s Diapers team up to provide victims of domestic abuse help.

Anticipating the birth of a new child, even when you’re already a parent, sparks a lot of emotions. Of course, there’s excitement and joy; but we can also experience worry about how siblings will cope, or fears about the child’s development or other concerns.

Layer that with unstable living situations, and life can become overwhelming.

That’s where one mom found herself before enlisting the help of Wise Women Gathering Place in Green Bay. Many people the organization works with are homeless or food insecure due to family violence and generational trauma.

“There is a family we work with who was living in a domestic abuse shelter,” Jessica Adams of Wise Women said. “She was working with us in several of our different programs. She had five children and was pregnant with her sixth. We were able to help secure a home for her and her family, help her connect with other community agencies to get her home outfitted with all the necessary items, assist in helping her find employment, assist with diapers for her now four children in diapers, and get referrals for her children to youth programs and assistance. She and her family are currently stable and living free from violence.”

Wise Women Gathering Place serves victims of crime – predominantly those harmed by domestic abuse, sexual assault, stalking and sex trafficking – and is committed to peace, respect and belonging through skill-building, sharing of resources and caring support for our community. WWGP is also one of Jake’s Diapers community partners who receive support from our Eastern Wisconsin Diaper Bank Initiative.

We used to rely on ‘spotty’ donations from the community,” she said. “When we were out of diapers or hygiene products, it may be that we were out for a long time. We would always refer to other community agencies who help with diapers, but it feels so good to not have to turn someone away to someone else when we can help them here – especially when transportation is such a big issue.”

Transportation is a barrier for these families for a variety of reasons, among them the fact that the multitude of complex traumas they are dealing with makes it difficult to obtain or maintain a job.

“Sometimes people use the last of their gas just to get to an appointment at WWGP. When clients can be helped on the spot with diapers, hygiene products, it helps alleviate one stress right there at the moment. Knowing that they can have a clean diaper after they leave their appointment can help prepare them to take on their next challenge and barrier.”

“Our partnership has fueled the organization’s ability to consistently support local families with diaper need,” Jessica said.