Operation Diaper Drop a Success!
- Jan 30, 2012
Operation Diaper Drop was a rousing success, thanks to the generous participation of churches across the diocese. [photos]
As of January 30, over 14,000 diapers were donated by parishioners to benefit ECS Head Start. Stacks of diapers in every size, color and style -- even faux denim! -- were piled high at our Oxford Head Start center in Chula Vista, ready for distribution to ECS' 18 Head Start sites scattered throughout south San Diego.
Linda Borja, assistant director of ECS Head Start, explained the need for diapers in program: "We don't require that children are first potty-trained before enrolling in Head Start. And, we have children in our Early Head Start (newborns to 3 years old) who are simply too young to be potty-trained. We go through at least 153,000 annually -- and that's a conservative estimate!"
The donated diapers will help reduce how much the program spends on diapers this year, allowing for those funds to be directed to another project or purpose that was originally not budgeted for. "We are so grateful for the generosity of our community" said Buffie Boyer, ECS Head Start director. "It serves as a double blessing, really. Not only can we count the diaper donation as in-kind match (required by federal regulations), but the program also benefits from a cost savings. This outreach project is a huge help to us!"
Operation Diaper Drop was an outreach activity designed by the Diocesan Service Coalition, a group of outreach liaisons from parishes in the diocese. The group meets quarterly to discuss outreach activities within their congregations, and decides upon a larger group activity to benefit a diocesan ministry such as Episcopal Community Services.
"The Drop was a lot of fun," said Sarah Shealy Stump, the driving force behind the Diocesan Service Coalition. "People had a great time picking out diapers in all kinds of sizes and designs. The great part of this large outreach project was knowing that our individual donations would literally pile up into a great big donation to benefit Head Start."
Many thanks to participating churches:
partial list as of January 30
St. John's, Chula Vista: 1,470 diapers + wipes + baby clothes
Christ Church, Coronado: 1,460 diapers
St. Peter's, Del Mar: 1,636 diapers
St. John's, Fallbrook: 1,060 diapers
St. Anne's, Oceanside: 532 diapers
All Souls', Point Loma: 286 diapers + wipes
St. Bartholomew's, Poway: 932 diapers + wipes
St. Andrew By-the-Sea, San Diego: 876 diapers
St. David's, San Diego: 1,960 diapers
St. Dunstan's, San Diego: 1,886 diapers + wipes
St. Mark's, San Diego: 811 diapers + wipes
St. Paul's Cathedral, San Diego: 4,444 diapers
For more information about the Diocesan Service Coalition, please email .