If you had to choose between buying groceries and keeping your baby in a clean diaper, what would you do? The Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank doesn’t think families should have to make that choice.

The Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank (WPDB) is the only regional nonprofit organization focused solely on the distribution of diapers to families of low-income or at poverty level. They also provide resource referral, pointing families to organizations that focus on other issues families in need may encounter.

Cathy Battle, Executive Director, explained to the audience at the Commissioners’ Public Meeting today that not only does the Diaper Bank accept donations of baby diapers, but also provide adult diapers to those incontinent adults, and period supplies to those who cannot afford to purchase them. “This is a gap that is growing all the time.” She and her husband, Rev. Phillip Battle, accepted the Commissioners’ proclamation of next week as National Diaper Needs Awareness Week, and reminded listeners that “The blessing is in the diaper.”

An affiliate of the National Diaper Bank Network, WPDB is an all-volunteer 501c3 charity. United Way of Southwestern PA awarded the organization a $10500 grant to further their efforts recently.  Jesse Sprajcar, Community Impact Director at United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, stated, “We’re happy to partner with the Diaper Bank to bring their services to Westmoreland County to fill a very definite need in the community here.”

Learn more about their work, find a drop-off location, or find out how to set up a diaper drive at https://www.wpadiaperbank.org/ .

Photo: Comm. Anderson, Rev. Battle, Cathy Battle, Comm. Kopas