Sunday, April 12, 2020

Dire Diaper Demand

Written by: Jillian Loveday

An infant cries from a raw, crimson diaper rash due to rationing diapers. An earnest parent wants to do what is best for the child, but diapers are expensive and not available through food stamps. Staph and urinary tract infections are pending for the child. Of course, the parent caves and uses the rationed diapers, what else can they do? But soon the diapers are gone. Do they use a towel next? A t-shirt? A parent’s sanity spirals. This scenario is all too real for those in communities without a diaper bank.
Statistically, one in three American families suffer from a diaper shortage. For those just on the poverty line, the $70 monthly expense for diapers is unattainable. Without the Little Lambs Foundation in Logan, this painted picture could turn into a reality.
Little Lambs Foundation — among all their wonderful work with foster kids — is also a local diaper bank. Every Thursday, this generous gem facilitates supplemental diaper needs for low income parents. If qualified, parents could receive up to 80 diapers a month for their infant or 60 diapers a month for their toddler. Sometimes this is just what parents need to get back on their feet.
In 2019, Little Lambs distributed 372,818 diapers, helping just over 12,000 families. With numbers this large, you wonder how they do it all. It’s simple, they attribute these results to wonderful donors and volunteers like you.
Yellow netted bags full of every size of donated diapers and wipes are stacked on shelves in the small warehouse just off of 10th West in Logan, UT. In the entryway, there is Gerber baby food, rice grain cereal, oatmeal, Similac formula, and hygiene kits full of soap, toothbrushes, nail clippers, and shampoo. On the wall just above all of this reads a sign, “Please take what you need.” 
Director, Ted, and his son welcome visitors at the front desk. Director, Shelly, and her two daughters are in the back, stamping books for the literacy program and packaging diapers for future pickups.
There is a sense of hope and love in the building. Women walk through the front door, sign in and are given their monthly allowance of diapers for their baby. Ted asks how they are doing and offers all the necessities in the corner. These women aren’t here to just take, they bring anything to give back to a place that has so willingly given to them. They offer clothes that are no longer needed and unopened cans of formula, all to benefit another parent in need.
Later in the evening, an unsure and shy youth group arrives. This small army starts to pack stacks of diapers. The feeling of camaraderie builds as these teenage girls come together to do something good. They are all there for a purpose, to benefit someone in need.
You can help a parent in need too. All it takes is a bit of your time and/or resources. Want to know how you can get involved? Donate! All diapers, wipes, and any other infant necessities are welcomed and appreciated. Click here to find out more.
Want to help in other ways? Visit Little Lambs of Utah for more information.
Are you in need of assistance? Find out if you’re eligible here.       

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Welcome to Little Lambs Foundation for Kids!

Little Lambs Foundation for Kids is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides diapers and baby supplies to low-income families and comfort kits to children placed in foster-care, entering emergency shelters and escaping domestic violence.

In the state of Utah, there is an average of 2,900 children in the foster-care system at any given time. During a foster care removal, the children are removed quickly from their home due to neglect and other dangerous situations. Getting the child into a safe environment is the first priority of social workers and police officers, therefore, the child’s personal items are left behind. With our Little Lambs Comfort Kit Program, we provide a backpack filled with items that no child should ever go without. A comfort kit contains items to help bring hope, support, and love to the children during their traumatic time.

Our Little Lambs Diaper Bank Program is helping babies across Utah to be happy, healthy and dry. An inadequate amount of diapers forces parents to have to leave their child in a soiled diaper longer which often leads to diaper rash, and can cause staph and urinary tract infections.

With your support our foundation stocks local emergency safe houses and the Division of Child and Family Services offices with hands-on resources to distribute to children and families in desperate need. Below is a list of items that we collect on an ongoing basis. (All items must be new.) Monetary donations are always needed.

Thank you so much for your support! Together we can make a difference. Please call or text with any questions at 435-764-4439. You can also visit our website at www.littlelambsofutah.org or email us at littlelambsofutah@aol.com
Collection List UPDATED 03/29/2020 (All items must be new)
Diaper wipes (Urgent need)

Diapers (Sizes 4, 5 & 6 most needed at this time)
Backpacks/Totes
Blankets/Quilts
Pillowcases
Books for all ages
Plush animals (Need baby safe plush at this time)
Bottles, sippy cups, binkies, rattles
Socks 
Small toys for all ages
Coloring books/crayons/coloring pencils
Notebooks/Journals
Any busy items (Cards, travel games, nail polish, scrapbook kits, ect.
Footballs, soccer balls, (any sporting items for girls or boys 7-17) (Urgent need)
Handmade or store bought baby items- burp towels, bibs, baby washcloths (Need baby bibs)
baby hygiene items (baby wash, powder, lotion)
Hygiene items ***We include a full size hygiene kit for Children 12-17 and small hygiene kit for all other ages..
(Travel sizes or Hotel samples work great)
2 Gallon Size Ziplock bags
1 Gallon size Ziplock bags
Kids toothbrushes & kids travel size toothpaste 
Deodorant
Body wash
Shampoo/Conditioner
Lotion 
Hairbrushes 
Pocket tissues
Washcloths/Bath Mitts 
Full size hygiene products for family hygiene kits
Feminine products 

Center Supplies:
paper towels
toilet paper
cleaning supplies (Clorox wipes, Lysol spray)

We have 5 Drop off locations  Thank you for your support!

Little Lambs- 1125 W. 400 N. Suite 200 in Logan (Tuesday's & Wednesday 10-1 PM & Thursday's from 4-7 PM)
Anderson Seed & Garden-  69 W Center Street 9-6 PM
American Family Insurance- 73 N. Main in Logan 9-5pm 
Call 435-764-4439 for Ogden, UT drop off
Now Chiro 761 West Antelope Dr Layton, UT
All donations are tax deductible!
 Paypal address: littlelambsofutah@aol.com
Venmo: littlelambsofutah

Happy Easter!

Shelly’s Story

      About Shelly Nazer     First grade for Shelly was a world full of finger painting, running on the playground, and learning how...