FEATURED AGENCY OF THE WEEK: Caregiving Network

Imagine living solely off of food stamps and maybe some cash assistance, searching every single day for a place to work so you can clothe, shelter and provide for your family. Many of the clients at Caregiving Network live this life every time the sun comes up. Several clients are young single mothers who have no extra money for diapers and are in a desperate state, trying to provide for their child.

A Christian run non-profit organization, Caregiving Network, Inc., meets the basic needs of individuals who are living below the 2013 100% Poverty Income Level in Midland County. Caregiving Network partners with community organizations and local churches to teach skills and promote self-sufficiency to each individual who walks through their doors.

Not only does Caregiving Network work with The Diaper Alliance to provide diapers for families in need, they also have food, clothing, household and personal care pantries and provide transportation, rent and utility assistance. Since 1994, Caregiving Network has continued to shape the lives of those financially struggling in our community and with your support they can continue to do so. If you have any questions about volunteering or supporting our Partner Agency, Caregiving Network, please visit their website or call Executive Director, Tom Vander Zouwen, at (989) 837-9757. 

Almost 500,000 Diapers Delivered!

Finished and stuffed to the brim! The Diaper Alliance finished unloading the second semi of Huggies diapers on Wednesday, July 3rd and our warehouse is officially full.

It was a good thing that the second semi full of diapers arrived on Wednesday morning instead of Monday with the first load, because the warehouse would not have been ready for such large numbers! In order to prepare for the second semi, a large hole had to be cut into the dry wall, electrical wires had to be moved, pallet jacks had to be ordered and the first load of diapers had to be moved to our second warehouse room. Everything was completed on time and the second semi full of diapers arrived around 10:00 AM on Wednesday morning. 

Around 2:00 PM on Wednesday every pallet was unloaded and strategically placed in The Diaper Alliance warehouse. The building is now filled with a total of 47 pallets of diapers, ranging from size 3-6. The expected 250,000 diapers we thought Huggies was going to send us, turn into nearly 500,000 diapers! 

The Diaper Alliance was shell shocked when hearing such a large number! We had no idea that we would get so many diapers. A huge thank you goes out to The Galloup Company for unloading the pallets, as well as Arianna and her family and the Signatures Photography men for helping us move pallets and sort the diapers in the warehouse. 

We are in complete awe of the blessings we have been given. We are now stocked and ready for the next challenge, distributing the diapers to the families who need us! 

View the Photo Album.

1st Huggies Load Delivered!

As most of you know, The Diaper Alliance was selected for a Community Partnership through the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) and their founding sponsor, Huggies. The National Partnership will provide a total of one-half-million diapers to The Diaper Alliance to be distributed in Midland County and eventually to neighboring communities. Other benefits include purchasing privileges and the opportunity to work with NDBN to become a sustainable organization during the two years. The first quarter million diapers were scheduled to arrive today, July 1st, 2013. 

The semi truck full of Huggies diapers arrived at 4606 James Savage Road this morning around 2:30 AM, driven by a sweet gentleman who called Debi, The Diaper Alliance's Executive Director, announcing his arrival. Debi informed the man that our delivery was scheduled for 11:00 AM, however he was welcome to sleep and make himself comfortable until everyone arrived and that is what he did.

We lifted the gate of the semi bed around 9:30 AM only to realize that the pallets were placed in the wrong direction. We were not able to get them out of the semi, unless they were turned sideways. Thanks to our NEW neighbors, The Galloup Company we were able to overcome this obstacle. The Galloup Company generously offered to take the semi over to their unloading dock, unload it onto a flat bed, drive the flat bed over and then unload all 18 pallets of diapers into our NEW warehouse with their fork lift. We honestly could not have completed what we did today with out Galloup's help! 

Representatives from almost all of our 18 Partner Agencies attended the Huggies celebration as well as  Midland Daily News and Signatures Photography. The excitement and support of all of those who attended filled the entire building. Thank you to all who helped make today possible and the continuous support of our mission at The Diaper Alliance, to meet the diaper need in Midland County. We would not be where we are today without YOUR support!

Visit our Facebook page, to see the complete photo album from the delivery.