Dear Editor:

Most of us agree that basic human needs include food, shelter and clothing. We can also agree that children who lack food, shelter and clothing (including diapers) are at a distinct disadvantage. 

Diapers, as any parent knows are expensive, costing between $500 and $1,000 a year per child. Families who receive public assistance can’t use food stamps to pay for diapers. Like states all across the country, the state of Maine requires some parents with limited resources to take job to take job training or go to school, and a limited amount of public funding has been set aside to help them pay for child care while they participate in these programs.

But holding a steady job or attending school or a job training program is easier said than done when parents can’t send their children to daycare. Most day care providers require parents to furnish diapers. Something as simple and basic as lacking diapers can lead to insurmountable problems for families in need: unhappy, unhealthy babies, under-educated toddlers, and under-employed adults. No diapers, no child care, no work or school. No way out of poverty.

This year, between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day you can give real, concrete help to local families by supporting the United Way of Mid Coast Maine and a number of terrific area businesses and organizations as they collect diapers that will be distributed by volunteers to area families in need.

Donations of diapers can be left in donation boxes at the Boothbay Region YMCA, the St. Andrews Campus Urgent Care Center, the Family Care Center St. Andrews Campus, the Wiscasset Community Center, Yellowfront Grocery Store in Damariscotta and the Waldoboro Town Hall. For more information or if you’d like to make a financial donation that will enable the United Way to purchase diapers that will be distributed locally, visit www.uwmcm.org/diapers or call Maria Hinteregger at 207-443-9752.

Connie Jones

Boothbay