Appointment of New Director

Karen Keegan
Karen Keegan, NCDP Director

The Nevada County Diaper Project has announced the appointment of a new director, Karen Keegan, who has assumed the responsibilities of previous director, Denise Franklin Hayes.  Karen lives in Lake Wildwood with her husband of 38 years, Edward Keegan, who will also play an integral part in the success of the Nevada County Diaper Project. After all, someone has to deliver the diapers to the 7 distribution centers! 

Karen is a retired Adult Health Educator, working for Kaiser Permanente teaching healthy living and smoking cessation classes.  She also worked for Weight Watcher’s for 8 years as a group leader. 

She is a former single mother, who remembers the challenges of providing for the needs of her children on a single income.  It was those memories that encouraged her to reach out to Denise Franklin Haynes when a new director was needed. “I have lived the struggle that many young mothers experience.  Nothing hurts worse that not being able to provide the necessities your own children need in their formative years”, shares Karen. 

Karen has been a volunteer at the Nevada County Food Bank, has volunteered the last 4 years in her grandson’s classroom, and was looking for an important way to positively impact the lives of others.   

The Nevada County Diaper Project was founded by Cathy Fagan in 2009, when she realized that many young families in our community didn’t have funds to purchase diapers.  When visiting local food banks for groceries, the young mothers would ask for diapers.  One in three mothers in America struggle to provide diapers for their babies.  These mothers have had to cut back on basics such as food, utilities like gas and electricity, or even child care to provide enough diapers for their children. 

The NC Diaper Project started with a small distribution of 50 diapers per week.  We currently distribute between 4,500 to 6,000 diapers per month, all paid for with money and contributions made by private donors and organizations.  The Diaper Project is filling a great need for our local families. 

“This is a huge and very important job.  I am blessed with a community of friends who donate their time and help to get this job done.  I could not do it alone!  Many hands make light work, says Karen. 

Volunteers interested in helping with or donating to the Nevada County Diaper Project can contact Karen Keegan through the NC Diaper Project email address- 

New Distribution Center in South County

The Nevada County Diaper Project in cooperation with Sierra Pines Methodist Church in Grass Valley will now be distributing disposable diapers to families in need of assistance in South County.

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Located at 22559 West Hacienda Drive, the distribution times will be on Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Proof of residency in Nevada County as well as a birth certificate or baby’s age and diaper size will be needed to register.

For more information, contact Bonnielee at 530 318 0800
or e-mail: godsgirlmissbonnielee@yahoo.com

 

Intero Donates $1500!

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The Nevada County Diaper Project was the recipient of a $1,500 grant from the Intero Foundation. This money will be used to purchase a pallet of diapers for families in Nevada County that are in need. The Diaper Project is one of Intero’s favorite projects because it foster and promotes a happier environment for the whole family unit and creates a healthier life circumstance for the child.

Donations can be made via Paypal or sent to
The Nevada County Diaper Project
P. O. Box 912
Penn Valley, CA 95946

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Intero Donates $1500!

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The Nevada County Diaper Project was the recipient of a $1,500 grant from the Intero Foundation. This money will be used to purchase a pallet of diapers for families in Nevada County that are in need. The Diaper Project is one of Intero’s favorite projects because it foster and promotes a happier environment for the whole family unit and creates a healthier life circumstance for the child.

Donations can be made via Paypal or sent to
The Nevada County Diaper Project
P. O. Box 912
Penn Valley, CA 95946

intero

Assistant Director Needed

Volunteer Assistant Director needed for The Nevada County Diaper Project
A 501(c)3 Non Profit Organization

The Assistant Director will work along with the Director in operation of the diaper project for at least one year with the end purpose of assuming the role of Director in the future. This is a volunteer position.

The Director is responsible for overseeing the monthly distribution of diapers to distributors, maintaining records of the inventory, filing year-end tax forms, applying for grant money, and overall publicity with regard to fundraising. The average time per week expended on these activities is approximately 3 hours.

Computer skills are a must. We presently use Microsoft EXCEL for the inventory records, Microsoft WORD for documents, and Quicken for our financial record keeping.

This is a small, but important, non-profit that has served Nevada County families since 2009, and we want to insure the continuation of the distribution of diapers in our county.

If you have the desire to help our community and assume the leadership of this small non-profit, contact Cathy Fagan at 530 432 1974 or ncdiaperproject@comcast.net

Assistant Director Needed

Volunteer Assistant Director needed for The Nevada County Diaper Project
A 501(c)3 Non Profit Organization

The Assistant Director will work along with the Director in operation of the diaper project for at least one year with the end purpose of assuming the role of Director in the future. This is a volunteer position.

The Director is responsible for overseeing the monthly distribution of diapers to distributors, maintaining records of the inventory, filing year-end tax forms, applying for grant money, and overall publicity with regard to fundraising. The average time per week expended on these activities is approximately 3 hours.

Computer skills are a must. We presently use Microsoft EXCEL for the inventory records, Microsoft WORD for documents, and Quicken for our financial record keeping.

This is a small, but important, non-profit that has served Nevada County families since 2009, and we want to insure the continuation of the distribution of diapers in our county.

If you have the desire to help our community and assume the leadership of this small non-profit, contact Cathy Fagan at 530 432 1974 or ncdiaperproject@comcast.net

Intero Foundation Donates to NCDP

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The Intero Foundation donated another $1,000 to the Nevada County Diaper Project last week along with a $500 grant to the Keeping Kids Safe Program.

“Cathy Fagan, director of the project, does a fantastic job with the Nevada County Diaper non-profit and nearly all the dollars donated goes right to buying and distributing diapers to needy families.” says John Miller “The positive impact this has on the children, their families and the community as a whole is the reason why this is our third grant to the program in just over two years.”

John and Edie have just opened their fourth office in Nevada County with the most recent office located at 227 Broad Street in the heart of Nevada City. To date Intero has raised over $23,000 locally and the Foundation over $3,300,000 worldwide.

“The money we raise here, stays here to help our children.” Miller says “Every Real Estate agent in our company gives a portion of their commissions earned to our foundation. I am very proud of the fact we have 100% participation. We also get a great turn out from the agents, the administration staff and our preferred vendors for our fundraisers.” Evergreen Home Loans donated $500 to get the donation ball rolling and will be volunteering to help with the setup as well.

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A Community Responds

Bob & Diane Hall, Bill & Cathy Fagan, Mike Mastrodonato & Mike Zimmerman stacking cases of diapers in the storage unit. (photo by Mac MaGill)
Bob & Diane Hall, Bill & Cathy Fagan, Mike Mastrodonato & Mike Zimmerman stacking cases of diapers in the storage unit. (photo by Mac MaGill)

When the Nevada County Diaper Project received news that they were the recipients of a large donation of diapers from the National Diaper Bank Network that manages Huggies’ Every Little Bottom Program, it all seemed like good news. It was only after learning that the diapers were in the Los Angeles area, and had to be transported to Penn Valley within a week over the holidays that turned it into a real challenge.

 

Undaunted by what seemed insurmountable obstacles, Cathy Fagan, Director of the Project, got on the internet to find out what options were available to transport the three pallets of diapers at a minimal cost over the holiday season. Freight Quote searched its database and found a trucking company that would do the job at a reasonable cost and could work with the limited pickup schedule. However, they needed a commercial receiving dock in Penn Valley to receive the three pallets, after which, the diapers had to be transferred to the storage unit in Lake Wildwood.

 

What began as a one-person challenge soon became a community project. Scott Gutierrez of True Value Hardware stepped up to offer their loading dock and forklift to receive the shipment. Then Mike Mastrodonato of Penn Valley Storage offered to transfer the pallets to their final destination.

 

On delivery day, both businesses worked together to get the pallets of diapers to the storage unit in Lake Wildwood. After Bob and Diane Hall, Bill Fagan, Mike Zimmerman, and Mike Mastrodonato unloaded and stacked the boxes, the volunteers who package them moved in. Paula Bertness, Joan Nio, Kris Gardner, Tammy Giles, Gerry Cosby and Ginny Herron picked up their cases, got the diapers wrapped and ready for delivery to the distributors. It was pure teamwork.

 

The Nevada County Diaper Project wishes to thank all of these volunteers for caring enough to donate their time and talent to make this transfer a success.   Without this kind of cooperation, the project wouldn’t exist.

Recipient of National Funds for Change Grant

NEVADA COUNTY DIAPER BANK SELECTED

AS RECIPIENT OF NATIONAL FUNDS FOR CHANGE GRANT

 

$1,000 Grant to Help Nevada County Diaper Project

 

Grass Valley, CA December 1, 2014 The Nevada County Diaper Project, the community-based not-for-profit organization that distributes diapers to babies living in low-wage families in Nevada County, has been selected as one of 61 national recipients of the inaugural Funds for Change grant awarded by the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN).

 

“The Funds for Change grants are designed to enhance the sustainability or capacity of individual diaper banks to address diaper need in their respective communities,” said Alison Weir, director of programs at National Diaper Bank Network. “NDBN is very pleased to present The Nevada County Diaper Project with a $1,000 grant to further its effort to help babies in Nevada County.”

 

According to Cathy Fagan, Founder and Director of the project, the grant will be used for the operation of the office, storage space, and needed supplies, which will allow all community-donated money to used solely for the purchase of diapers.

 

In total, NDBN awarded more than $100,000 in grant funding to member diaper banks operating in 30 states. However, the net impact of the Funds for Change exceeds $200,000, as each NDBN grant is matched dollar-for-dollar at the local level. The 61 grants awarded ranged in size from $800 to $2,000 and went to both newly formed and established diaper banks, located in communities throughout the country.

 

Since its first diaper distribution in January, 2009, the Nevada County Diaper Project has helped provide more than 5,000 per diapers per month to families living in Nevada County

 

About the National Diaper Bank Network: The National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) is a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that every child in the U.S. has enough diapers to be clean, dry & healthy. Founded in 2011, the network raises awareness of diaper need (#DiaperNeed) and supports the development and expansion of diaper banks in communities throughout the country. Its active membership includes more than 230 diaper banks, diaper closets and food banks located in 48 states and the District of Columbia. Huggies® supports NDNB as the founding sponsor, and works to combat diaper need through the Every Little Bottom campaign by donating more than 20 million diapers per year to families in need. More information on NDBN and diaper need is available at www.nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org, and on Facebook (facebook.com/NationalDiaperBankNetwork) and Twitter (@DiaperNetwork).

California Takes the Lead to Provide Diaper Assistance

The Nevada County Diaper Project has made great strides in the past five years to create awareness in the community of the need to provide diapers to low-income families in the entire county. Two very significant steps have been taken in the past few months by state government leaders that support the efforts of all of the California diaper banks:

Senator Ted Gaines (R-Roseville) was successful in getting Senate Resolution (SR) 61 passed proclaiming the week of September 8-14 as Diaper Need Awareness Week. The Proclamation states that many children in California under three years of age live in low-income households, and a supply of diapers is generally an eligibility requirement for infants and toddlers to participate in childcare programs while their parents are at work. The average infant or toddler requires about 50 diaper changes per week and often times purchasing this vital necessity can be an economic hardship to needy families. This resolution encourages the citizens of California to donate to diaper banks, diaper drives, and those organizations that distribute diapers to families in need to help ensure access to diapers in California.

On another front, Lorena, Gonzalez (D) San Diego has penned the first-ever bill to address diaper need, which would give families on welfare with children under two $80 a month to cover diapers. That would mean mothers who can’t afford diapers — 30 percent of women across incomes and demographics say they’ve faced this problem at some point — won’t have to resort to stretching dirty diapers, risking infections and rashes, or go hat in hand to friends and family.

Alison Weir, director of programs at the National Diaper Bank Network, based in New Haven, CT, said she hopes California’s bill passes so that it will serve as a model for other states to emulate. “If California passes, everybody can see how it works,” Weir said. It might take longer, but it’ll probably gain traction more state by state than going through the federal government.”

For more information, visit the National Diaper Bank Network website at http://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org or www.nevadacountydiaperproject.org.

Donations to the Nevada County Diaper Project can be mailed to P. O. Box 912, Penn Valley, CA 95946 .

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