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Courtesy of Amanda Herzberger
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The Junior League of Champlain Valley Diaper Bank warehouse
The pandemic has exacerbated economic instability for many families. One of the items they need most? Diapers.
Since March, the Junior League of Champlain Valley Diaper Bank has given out more than 266,000 of them, said league member Amanda Herzberger. In the diaper bank's first year of operation — it opened in March 2019 — it donated around 100,000 over the course of the whole year.
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Courtesy of Amanda Herzberger
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A volunteer bundling diapers in September
Before COVID-19, the diaper bank worked with nine partners in Chittenden and Franklin counties, packaging diapers in smaller bundles that could then be distributed by each organization. But in recent months, they've expanded the operation to 11 counties across Vermont.
Due to the coronavirus, diaper drives at childcare centers and local businesses were put on hold. So the diaper bank applied for and received a $50,000 grant from the state's allotment of the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund to purchase diapers to distribute. A large donation from Seventh Generation and contributions through the diaper bank's Amazon Wish List also helped the effort.
The Junior League recently restarted its volunteer work sessions to repackage diapers and is looking to extend its reach into southern Vermont.
Said Herzberger: "For as long as we're able to support this expanded operation, we will."
