Latin American Youth Center received their first diapers at this past Saturday’s Distribution Day (check out Jorge with a
carload of diapers!) and they will be using them in their ongoing work to help young parents and young children. As Jorge says, “Many of our families do not have enough money for diapers….and sometimes some of our youth have to choose between diapers and food adding more stress.”
When I first learned of the Street Outreach Program I knew it was a program where DCDB diapers could make a real difference in the lives of some of our most vulnerable kids and young parents. The Street Outreach Program provides referrals to emergency housing and wrap-around services for youth aged 13-24 who are homeless or unstably housed. Part of that outreach includes emergency food and access to a shower and laundry facilities along with case management and life skills workshops. The program is offers bilingual services in English/Spanish and reaches around 30 families a month.
Latin American Youth Center had been distributing diapers as an incentive to decrease no-show rates for case management appointments in the Street Outreach Program until the cost of diapers became too great. We know that getting families into much needed services can often be a matter of creating tangible and immediate benefits for the family, like diapers and showers. We’re so glad to have Latin American Youth Center joins us and be part of this incredible work!
– Corinne Cannon ccannon@dcdiaperbank.org