How Huggies Snug and Dry Ultra Can Make a Difference in the Lives of Impoverished Children (sponsored)

 

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. Click here.

I’m working with Huggies Snug and Dry Ultra to make the world a better place. Diapers are a necessity for babies. As parents, we know this. Often, we groan about the cost of diapers and the need to purchase diapers constantly. Today, I’m thankful I can afford to buy my two children Huggies Snug N Dry diapers, but I know some families are not so fortunate.

Allow me to share some scary statistics:

“More than 16 million children in the United States – 22% of all children – live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level – $23,550 a year for a family of four. Research shows that, on average, families need an income of about twice that level to cover basic expenses. Using this standard, 45% of children live in low-income families.” – NCCP

Think about that for a few minutes. Let it sink in.

Some of you will be upset by this. Some of you feel compassion. Others will shift blame to the parents, and think, say, or type something along the lines of “they shouldn’t have kids, then”. That feeling is ignorant to reality in America, but furthermore, it is hurtful and unproductive. This post will not be a debate about wages in the U.S., this post will be about what we can do to improve the quality of life for poor newborns and infants.

In Northern New Jersey, Child & Family Resources collects donations for a Diaper Bank. Here are some facts about diaper costs in America from Child & Family Resources:

“The Facts

• A healthy change of diapers costs $112/month for children and $312/month for adults.
• Full-time work at minimum wage grosses + $1,160/per month and at $10/hour grosses +$1,600. Average rent for 1 bedroom apartment is $1,045 per month, leaving only $115-$555 in disposable income for all other expenses, including taxes and diapers.
• In 2007 Morris County had 1,316 children under 5 living in poverty according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
• Safety net programs do NOT cover diapers—not Food Stamps, not WIC, not Medicare (except hospice).
• Cloth diapers are not an option. Child care programs require disposable diapers for sanitary reasons. Cloth diapers are not readily available for adults.
• Diaper manufacturers do not donate diapers unless you have quadruplets or more and can provide a PR opportunity.

The Impacts

On Children:

• A normal infant uses up to 12 diapers/day; a toddler uses up to 8 diapers/day. In low-income households, a child may be in a single diaper all day or longer, increasing risk of health problems from skin diseases to hepatitis.
• A baby crying non-stop from being in a soiled diaper for a prolonged period of time is more likely to be abused.” – Child & Family Resources

If you’re looking for a cause to donate to, or a way to make a big difference with a small contribution, donate diapers to places like Child & Family Resources. I’m nominating Northern New Jersey’s Child & Family Resources Diaper Bank for the Huggies #UltraHug grant. A single $2,000 grant from Huggies can provide almost 18 months of diapers to a family in need (or help 18 families in one month!). We’re talking about real results here – lowering the risk of infection and likelihood of abuse significantly in a helpless child. And let’s not only discuss the negatives we’re eliminating, let’s talk about the positives: a family that receives diapers from a diaper bank will have a small bit of their monthly burden relieved.

Help me spread the word about Northern New Jersey’s Diaper Bank and let’s make a difference today. You can pick up some Huggies Diapers at Walmart and drop them off at Child & Family Resources. Walmart Huggies Snug and Dry Ultra are a great choice for leak protection. If you’re having trouble remembering, just write “Huggies Walmart Ultra” on your shopping list or set an alert on your phone.

 

If you do nothing else, make sure you give your little one(s) an #UltraHug today and share it on social media with the #UltraHug hashtag. Visit Walmart Huggies Snug N Dry Ultra page for more information on community grants and making a difference: https://ooh.li/2442909

About the #UltraHug Selfie Contest

From April 20th until June 25th, Huggies will be accepting all selfies of you and your baby with the hashtag #UltraHug, and featuring them in a collage on the campaign landing page. On July 6th, voting will begin to narrow down the 20 finalists to 10 winners who will win a $2,000 grant from Huggies for their nominated community initiative.

How to Enter the #UltraHug Selfie Contest

• First, take a selfie of you and your baby and upload that selfie to Twitter or Instagram. Make sure to use the hashtag #UltraHug
• In your same post, make sure to include a text nomination (approximately 100 – 120 characters) including a name and/or identifying description of a community project in the US, which you would like to nominate. Make sure the community project is something near and dear to your heart.