Diaper banker inspired by father's efforts to fight disease
NEW HAVEN, Conn., Sept. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) is getting information about COVID vaccines into hard-to-reach neighborhoods as a community partner with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' We Can Do This campaign. The effort comes as NDBN members have already increased by 86% the volume of diapers, period supplies, and other material basic necessities they provide, in response to the pandemic.
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For Northern Virginia Diaper Bank Program Director Susan Mullen, freeing communities from disease runs in the family. Mullen was born in Bolivia, where her father, C. Burton Keppler, in the 1950s went by car, by donkey, and by foot into the Andes to get smallpox vaccines to remote villages.
"When we heard about the We Can Do This campaign, we knew we had to join," said NDBN CEO Joanne Samuel Goldblum.
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Today Mullen is helping to organize a free vaccination clinic and leading an effort to get accurate information about COVID-19 vaccinations for young children into the community she serves.
NDBN got involved with We Can Do This in part because COVID vaccines are now recommended for children starting at six months of age, and getting information to families with young children is critical."Susan's family story points out that good health happens on the ground, where people live," said NDBN Board Chair Amy Daly Donovan
. "That's why the We Can Do This campaign partnered with organizations that are already providing vital services, like NDBN. Whether it's putting vaccination information on packages of diapers or hosting events where people can get vaccines and testing kits, basic needs banks are doing work that simply could not be done by people who lack roots in the community.""NDBN provides diapers and period supplies because these things are essential for good health and to participate fully in life," said NDBN CEO Joanne Samuel Goldblum. "It's outrageous that one in three families cannot afford the diapers their children need. It's also outrageous that things like internet access, insurance, or immigration status could keep a family from getting the health information they need. When we heard about the We Can Do This campaign, we knew we had to join."In addition to NDBN and its Alliance for Period Supplies, the We Can Do This campaign relied upon community groups like AARP, the American Red Cross, Feeding America, Meals on Wheels, and the National Parent–Teacher Association to spread accurate information about COVID vaccines. The American Academy of Pediatrics and other prominent health care groups have supplied experts to speak at events around the country."More than 100 member basic needs banks have signed on to deliver COVID-19 vaccination information in their communities," said Goldblum. "NDBN's mission is to ensure that no one is deprived life's essentials–and accurate health information is certainly essential."
'You do what you can, when you can, where you can'
Susan Mullen was 18 months old when her parents, Burt and Dorothy Keppler, who were nurses, arrived in Bolivia on a medical mission with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Burt would later go on to get a medical degree. During his three and a half years in Bolivia, he gave physicals to school children, pulled teeth, and treated various ailments. He also gave immunizations, including the smallpox vaccine, as part of the worldwide effort to eradicate the disease. "You do what you can, when you can, where you can," Mullen said her dad, who passed away in 2008, would often say. The effort to wipe out smallpox was huge, but the service of people like the Kepplers around the globe was vital to it. Whether he was navigating rivers on a raft laden with vaccines or driving narrow cliffside roads, Keppler was doing what he could.Mullen said that her own life was shaped by her parents' example of service. The family left Bolivia when she was just six, after her father fell ill with hepatitis A. But their travels continued, with her parents serving communities in Mexico, Ukraine, and many other destinations. Mullen has often thought of her father during the We Can Do This campaign. "My dad would just be rolling up his sleeves and want to come up here and help."
About the National Diaper Bank Network
The National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) provides material basic necessities required to build the strong foundations all children, families, and individuals require to thrive and reach their full potential. We work in partnership with our Network of diaper banks, allied programs, donors, sponsors, and elected officials to end diaper need and period poverty in the United States.
About the We Can Do This campaign
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' COVID-19 public education campaign, We Can Do This, is a national initiative to increase public confidence in and uptake of COVID vaccines while reinforcing basic prevention measures such as mask wearing and social distancing.
Diaper banks
participating in the campaign include:
Alabama
Bundles of Hope Diaper Bank, Birmingham
Arizona
Family Network/The Diaper Collective, Springdale
Diaper Bank of Southern Arizona, Tucson
California
Community Action Partnership of Orange County, Garden Grove
Good+Foundation LA, Los Angeles
Open Arms Food Pantry and Resource Center, Los Angeles
Help A Mother Out, Oakland
Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, Sacramento
Colorado
WeeCycle, Aurora
United Way of Weld County Covering Weld Diaper Bank, Greeley
Connecticut
The Diaper Bank of Connecticut, North Haven
District of Columbia
Greater DC Diaper Bank, Washington
Florida
The Diaper Bank, Covering South Florida, Boca Raton
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Diaper Bank, Cooper City
Safe Future Foundation, Jacksonville
Diaper Bank for Northeast Florida, Orange Park
Babycycle Diaper Bank, Pinellas Park
Georgia
Athens Area Diaper Bank, Bogart
Helping Mamas, Inc., Norcross
Over the Moon, Savannah
Hawaii
Hawaii Diaper Bank, Kamuela
Aloha Diaper Bank, Kaneohe
Iowa
Eastern Iowa Diaper Bank, Cedar Rapids
Illinois
Share Our Spare, Chicago
Bundled Blessings, Evanston
Loving Bottoms Diaper Bank, Galesburg
Indiana
All-Options Hoosier Diaper Program, Bloomington
Indiana Diaper Bank, Indianapolis
The Diaper Bank of East Central Indiana, Muncie
Kansas
Just Food of Douglas County, Lawrence
Massachusetts
United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region Diaper Bank, Greenfield
A Baby Center, Hyannis
Berkshire Community Diaper Project, Pittsfield
Maine
Michael Klahr Jewish Family Services, Portland
Maryland
ShareBaby, Baltimore
Michigan
Metropolitan Detroit Diaper Bank, Detroit
The Natural Momma Me Initiative, Detroit
St. Luke's Diaper Bank, Kalamazoo
The Diaper Alliance, Midland
Minnesota
Diaper Bank of Minnesota, Saint Paul
Missouri
HappyBottoms, Kansas City
New Madrid County Family Resource, New Madrid
St. Louis Area Diaper Bank, Saint Louis
Mississippi
Diaper Bank of the Delta, Batesville
Montana
Family Promise of Yellowstone Valley Community Diaper Bank, Billings
North Carolina
Babies Need Bottoms Diaper Bank, Asheville
Diaper Bank of North Carolina, Durham
North Dakota
Dakota Diaper Pantry (Project BEE), Minot
New Jersey
HomeFront, Lawrenceville
Modestly Cover Diaper Bank of Essex County, Monroe Twp
Central Jersey Diaper Bank- AECDC, New Brunswick
Moms Helping Moms, Warren
New Mexico
The Junior League of Albuquerque Diaper Bank, Albuquerque
The Food Depot, Santa Fe
Nevada
Baby's Bounty, Las Vegas
New York
The HopeLine, Bronx
Expecting Relief, Brooklyn
Little Essentials, Brooklyn
Every Bottom Covered Inc, Buffalo
CNY Diaper Bank, Liverpool
Allied Foundation, Melville
Good+Foundation NY, New York
Westchester County Diaper Bank, Scarsdale
Baby Steps Baby Pantry, Walden
Ohio
Project MKC, Boardman
Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank, Cincinnati
Diaper Bank of Greater Cleveland, Cleveland
Columbus Diaper Bank, Columbus
Bottoms Up Diaper Drive, Lancaster
Gem City Diaper Bank, Trotwood
Oklahoma
Emergency Infant Services, Tulsa
Oregon
PDX Diaper Bank, Portland
Pennsylvania
Healthy Steps Diaper Bank, Harrisburg
Mitzvah Circle Foundation, Norristown
Cradles to Crayons, Philadelphia
Greater Philadelphia Diaper Bank, Philadelphia
Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank, Pittsburgh
Puerto Rico
Banco de Alimentos Puerto Rico Inc, Carolina
Rhode Island
Project Undercover, Inc., Warwick
South Carolina
Power in Changing, Columbia
Tennessee
Sweet Cheeks Diaper Ministry, Cordova
Nashville Diaper Connection, Nashville
Texas
Austin Diaper Bank, Austin
Hope Supply Co., Dallas
Baby Booties Diaper Bank, McKinney
Texas Diaper Bank, San Antonio
Utah
Little Lambs Foundation for Kids, Logan
Utah Diaper Bank, Murray
Virginia
NOVA Diaper Bank, Ashburn
Urban Baby Beginnings, Richmond
Fairfax Diapers, Vienna
Vermont
Junior League of Champlain Valley Diaper Bank, Shelburne
Washington
Diaper Bank of Skagit County, Burlington
Eastside Baby Corner, Issaquah
Help Me Grow Pierce County, Tacoma
Wisconsin
Walworth County Food & Diaper Bank, Elkhorn
Milwaukee Diaper Mission, Franklin
Pregnancy Helpline Inc of Madison, Madison
Eastern Wisconsin Diaper Bank, Neenah
Wyoming
Family Promise Albany County, Laramie
Period supplies providers participating in the campaign include:
Alabama
Bundles of Hope Diaper Bank, Birmingham
Arizona
Women4Women, Tempe
California,
Sisters On The Streets, North Hills
Colorado
Project Distributing Dignity, Castle Rock
Connecticut
The Diaper Bank of Connecticut, North Haven
Florida
Safe Future Foundation, Jacksonville
Embrace of Celebration, Kissimmee
Georgia
Helping Mamas, Inc., Norcross
Over the Moon, Savannah
Illinois
Loving Bottoms Diaper Bank, Galesburg
Maine
Michael Klahr Jewish Family Services, Portland
Michigan
Charitable Union, Battle Creek
Metropolitan Detroit Diaper Bank, Detroit
The Natural Momma Me Initiative, Detroit
Helping Women Period, Lansing
The Diaper Alliance - Project Dottie, Midland
Missouri
St. Louis Area Diaper Bank, St. Louis
Mississippi
Diaper Bank of the Delta, Batesville
North Carolina
Diaper Bank of North Carolina, Durham
New Jersey
The Flow Initiative, Jersey City
Fresh Start, New, Providence
Moms Helping Moms, Warren
Ohio
Tidal Babe Period Bank, Cincinnati
The Period Pantry Project, Columbus
Pennsylvania
Mitzvah Circle Foundation, Norristown
Greater Philadelphia Diaper Bank, Philadelphia
Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank, Pittsburgh
South Carolina
Power In Changing - Power Cycle, Columbia
Texas
Bright Spot, Austin
Baby Booties, McKinney
Texas Diaper Bank, San Antonio
Utah
Little Lambs Foundation for Kids, Logan
Virginia
The Kwek Society, Arlington
Sylvia's Sisters, Richmond
Wisconsin
Milwaukee Diaper Mission, Franklin
On the Dot, Neenah
SOURCE National Diaper Bank Network