Diaper Resource Center reaches Diaper Milestone 

The Diaper Resource Center (DRC) was organized in early 2015 with the mission: "To furnish local distributing agencies with diapers for at-risk, early childhood youth to enhance the families' resources and improve their well-being."  DRC receives some support as an affiliate of Diaper Bank of the Ozarks.

As of this month DRC has provided over 350,000 disposable diapers to our eight agencies who distribute to area families, in addition to the cloth diaper kits available through the Howell County Health Department. The DRC objective is to end "diaper need".

What is Diaper Need?  One in three families struggle to provide enough diapers each day to keep their babies clean and dry. The situation has led to what has become known as "diaper need." There are currently no federal or state programs which assist with the purchase of diapers. There are many circumstances which can create diaper need, and whatever those circumstances are, they don't erase the fact that babies need clean and dry bottoms to stay healthy and happy.

Diaper banks such as DRC function as store houses for diapers like food banks do for food. Diaper banks rely on members of the community, churches, and other organizations to hold diaper drives and diaper showers, and for individuals and businesses to provide monetary and in-kind donations to sustain their supply.

Current distributing agencies include His Place House of Worship Diaper Ministry, Martha Vance Samaritan Outreach Center, and Christos House Outreach. Clients are also served through the Howell County Health Department, 37th Division Childrens Services, Ozark Action Early Head Start, Pregnancy Resource Center, and the Chaos Closet. Individuals with needs should contact those agencies directly with inquiries.

The cloth diaper loan program, begun in 2016, expands the efforts of the group. Starter kits are distributed to Howell County families. If interested, please phone the Howell County Health Department at 417-256-7078.

Donations of disposable diapers can be dropped off at Ozark Action Inc. (OAI), 710 E. Main St., West Plains, MO 65775. OAI provides DRC with warehouse space for diapers. Diapers can be left at OAI, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, all year long. Diaper Resource Center-West Plains is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

Area churches, businesses, organizations, or individuals who wish to contribute toward addressing diaper need in our area may inquire at diaperresourcecenter@gmail.com, by phone to 417-256-6147, or by mail at P O Box 1773, West Plains, MO 65775. Presentations are available for groups on request. Check our Facebook page under Diaper-Resource-Center-West-Plains for updates. Any Howell County group wishing to apply as a distributing agency should email or phone for an application.