Leadership Marshfield Project
Throughout the next couple of weeks, OnFocus will take a deeper look at some of this year’s Leadership Marshfield projects.
Background: The purpose and objective of Leadership Marshfield is to identify current and potential leaders in the community and provide a training program that will enhance their ability to function as more effective leaders. They will be better equipped to face the issues, problems, and challenges that will determine our community’s future.
Leadership Marshfield is a program of the Marshfield Area Chamber Foundation supported by the Leadership Council, volunteers, Chamber staff, and a strong Alumni network.
MACCI’s first Leadership Class graduated in May 1993. The 2019 class was recruited in the summer of 2018. Members participate in a series of eight informative one-day programs and develop group projects designed to meet each individual’s interests and community needs.
The purpose of the community project is to provide participants with an additional educational experience beyond the monthly sessions. Participants select their projects after learning about opportunities confronting the community and according to their interests.
Project Name: Marshfield Area Great Diaper Drive
Team Members: Alex Canfield, Whitney Cronkite, Daena Day, Corey Foemmel, and Meranda Lelonek.
The high cost of diapers leaves one in three American families struggling to afford them.
To help with local community need, a Leadership Marshfield group has organized a diaper drive May 2-18 in partnership with Marshfield Area United Way.
“In working through the United Way, individual organizations will not need to hold their own drives. This can also lessen their need to look for donations elsewhere and focus on other items the individuals they serve are in need of,” said Daena Day, group member.
Diapers cost about $70-80 per month for each baby and infants use about 12 per day, according to the National Diaper Bank Network. There exists no state or federal safety-net program specifically for purchasing diapers, and they cannot be purchased with food stamps.
“The overall goal of the project is that we can collect enough diapers to be able to meet the needs of local organizations and individuals,” said Day. “We are also accepting monetary donations that can be used to replenish the supplies as needed. In addition to diapers, our drive will include adjacent complementary items including wipes and diaper cream.”
Last year, Soup or Socks served 1,200 children, 40 percent age 4 or under. The Hannah Center served 260 families in 2018 through its Caring Closet and gave out 2,600 diapers. Both have reported a need for larger diapers sizes (4 and up).
United Way will help promote the diaper drive, provide info on its website, and collect monetary donations for the project. A list of drop-off locations confirmed so far include Walgreens, Shopko, Festival Foods, Forward Bank, Simplicity Credit Union, Pick N Save, and Marshfield Mall.
The group plans to continue working with United Way and replenish supplies with help from grants through the Marshfield Area Community Foundation (the Women’s Giving Circle Fund), Marshfield Sunrise Rotary, and the Leadership Marshfield Alumni group.
“In future years, we hope for the diaper drive to live on as the need for diapers will always be there,” said Day.
Checks can be sent year-round, memo “Diaper Drive,” to United Way at 156 S. Central Drive, Marshfield, WI, 54449. Anyone with questions can email the group at [email protected]
Author: News Desk
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