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Silver Award Spotlight: Diaper Need in my Community
Girl Scout Cadette Teagan from Troop 301 says that she believes in the saying, “raising awareness is the first step to addressing a problem.” She earned her Silver Award for raising awareness of the desperate need for diaper donations in her community — and taking action to address it.
Working with her church, Teagan held a diaper drive every Sunday for the month of January (for Baby New Year!) complete with a table display and flyers for educational outreach. She was able to deliver more than 5,000 donated diapers to the Greater Hampton Roads Diaper Bank.
During this time, Teagan created a video PSA to help further illustrate the serious nature of the problem and the severity of the need. For families below the poverty line, or barely making ends meet, sometimes the choice is between diapers and food or rent. It’s a heartbreaking issue.
“Some parents have to leave their baby in a soiled diaper or even reuse soiled diapers, increasing the risk of infections,” she states in her video. The high cost of diapers can also exacerbate the cycle of poverty. “Diaper need is a critical issue that often falls through the cracks of traditional assistance pathways; 1 in 5 families experience diaper need, yet there are no Federal programs to aid families with this need. Most daycares require a full day’s worth of diapers. Many parents cannot go to work or school if they cannot leave their baby in a childcare center.”
For the final phase of her project, Teagan enlisted the help of community members as she took on the task of constructing a large sign for the Greater Hampton Roads Diaper Bank, which she installed outside of their building. “They did not have a sign that could be seen from the road. Now people can easily locate them.”
In addition to gaining new carpentry skills, Teagan says she learned other important things about herself while working on her Silver Award. “I learned I could make a difference in a cause. I also learned I’m comfortable talking to a group!”
Congratulations, Teagan!
