As CEO of the Central Florida Diaper Bank , Sharon Lyles is grateful to the Board of Directors , partners , volunteers and donors like Huggies and the National Diaper Bank for their support in providing essentials to families in need and making life better for children . However , as the Central Florida Community grows and broadens , so does the need . If you want to know more about the Central Florida Diaper Bank , please check out the website www . centralfloridadiaperbank . org
Sharon Lyles and the Central Florida Diaper Bank : Changing Lives From the Bottom Up !
The Central Florida Diaper Bank did not just appear out of thin air . It is the brainchild of CEO , Sharon Lyles . When she tells her story , she talks about the fact that the average baby needs 6-8 diapers per day . She remembers a particular day , as a young single mother when she was down to one last diaper and the adhesive to that one would not stick . That moment , of not knowing where the next diaper was coming from , was filled with agony and heart-wrenching uncertainty . Her pain became her passion and the seed of developing the Central Florida Diaper Bank was planted . Over the years that seed was watered with instances of working in the community . The fact is that women who lack an adequate supply of diapers for their babies are more likely to report symptoms of depression and anxiety than other low-income mothers .
In 1995 , she established the Central Florida Diaper Bank with a mission to advocate and encourage healthy growth , nutrition , and development for children from birth , as a newborn , to age three . The vision was to promote self-sufficiency for parents and their children who are at risk due to circumstances beyond their control by identifying their needs and providing the appropriate resources . Over the years , supplying families with diapers has increased the health , social , and economic outcomes of affected families in Central Florida . Last year alone , the organization supplied 465,850 baby diapers , 311,000 baby wipes and served 776 children .
Having a baby is one of the most marvelous things in life , as well as one of the most difficult things in life . Being a new parent has always been a lot of hard work . Babies need constant feeding and care . There are sleep schedules to figure out and symptoms to monitor . But an extra layer of work is when it comes to budgeting and an astonishing part of that budget is affording an adequate supply of diapers . It costs a family about $ 1,000 a year to buy a supply of average-priced diapers for one child . For someone who works a full-time minimumwage job making just over $ 15,000 a year , that is a huge expense . Imagine having to choose between diapering or feeding your child . For many , this is their reality .
A third of American families struggle to afford enough diapers for their children . Even if poor families can enroll in government safety-net programs like food stamps or Medicaid , they will quickly find the benefits do not cover these basic necessities . Actually , there are no state or federal subsidies that support diapers and wipes . An alternative subsidy to these safety net programs is the Central Florida Diaper Bank , which provides parents with diapers , community resources , and other basic baby essentials .
The need is greater than ever and for 2020 , the Central Florida Diaper Bank is expanding its platform . In addition to providing diapers , baby wipes , and supplies , they are also working on a program to lower risk factors associated with Preterm Birth , Low-Birth Weight , Infant Mortality and Poor Developmental Outcomes . This new program , which is under development , will offer activities to improve the education , health and social outcomes for expectant and parenting teens , young parents , and guardians of families with infants . Along with this new program , the goal is to raise awareness about the infant mortality crisis in Orange County and the health disparities that exist .
As CEO of the Central Florida Diaper Bank , Sharon Lyles is grateful to the Board of Directors , partners , volunteers and donors like Huggies and the National Diaper Bank for their support in providing essentials to families in need and making life better for children . However , as the Central Florida Community grows and broadens , so does the need . If you want to know more about the Central Florida Diaper Bank , please check out the website www . centralfloridadiaperbank . org
Sharon wants you to consider donating , volunteering your time to collect and or distribute information and materials to help a mother and child in need .
Sharon Lyles and Central Florida Diaper Bank with Teenage Mother and celebration with Huggies National Diaper Bank