UC Merced professor leads diaper drive
UC Merced professor Patricia "Patti" LiWang began to collect
diapers and toilet tissue in the summer of 2009 during her first Summer
of Diapers drive.
In the past three summers, she's collected 7,600 diapers and 446 rolls of toilet paper, though donations are down this summer.
The collection isn't to enhance her research but to make a difference in the lives of Merced-area families in need.
In the past three summers, she's collected 7,600 diapers and 446 rolls of toilet paper, though donations are down this summer.
The collection isn't to enhance her research but to make a difference in the lives of Merced-area families in need.
Merced Sun-Star - UC Merced professor Patricia "Patti" LiWang began to collect diapers and bathroom tissue to help poor families.
Diapers aren't cheap, and LiWang said there's no charity that donates
diapers to poor families with babies. "There's really no good source of
diapers," she said. "We have to do something."
The idea for the
diaper collection came to LiWang after she read a news story about how
the federally funded Women, Infants and Children Program, or WIC, didn't
provide money for diapers. She said that when she read the article, her
son, Brandon, was using diapers and she knew it was a hefty expense --
one you notice even when you have a good-paying job, she said. "Imagine
if I was poor," she said. "I just couldn't believe it."
LiWang said she couldn't tolerate a baby having to sit in a wet diaper for hours, especially during hot summer days. Some families are forced to potty-train their toddlers when it's too early because they can't afford diapers, she said.
"I wish I could do more," said LiWang, who teaches science. "When you do it, you realize how small it is compared to the big need."
After she collects the diapers and toilet tissue, she drops them off at the Merced County Food Bank, which distributes them to families. LiWang said she's been told that at the end of the month there's an urgent need because most families get paid at the beginning of the month.
The food bank has had to turn away people, she said.
Still, LiWang is happy if she can at least help prevent a few family arguments. Sometimes frustration arises when there's not enough money in the household to buy what's needed, she said.
"You can't change the world, but you can sometimes give people a better day, at least," she said.
LiWang is spearheading the effort, but other staff at UC Merced occasionally help. She plans to continue the drive next summer.
She hopes to get more people involved in the effort and has a vision for the drive to grow. The mother of three wants to be able to place collection boxes outside stores such as Target or Wal-Mart so people can remember to donate while shopping.
LiWang collects diapers of all sizes.
"I hope it's making a difference," she said.
Reporter Yesenia Amaro can be reached at (209)385-2482, or yamaro@mercedsun-star.com.
EDITOR'S NOTE: 'Merced Matters' appears every Monday. In it we will tell the stories of Mercedians -- ordinary people doing extraordinary things, extraordinary people doing ordinary things and a lot in between. We hope you like our effort to let you know more about others in our community, and we welcome your suggestions. Please contact Mike Tharp at mtharp@mercedsun-star.com or (209) 385-2456 with your ideas for 'Merced Matters.'
LiWang said she couldn't tolerate a baby having to sit in a wet diaper for hours, especially during hot summer days. Some families are forced to potty-train their toddlers when it's too early because they can't afford diapers, she said.
"I wish I could do more," said LiWang, who teaches science. "When you do it, you realize how small it is compared to the big need."
After she collects the diapers and toilet tissue, she drops them off at the Merced County Food Bank, which distributes them to families. LiWang said she's been told that at the end of the month there's an urgent need because most families get paid at the beginning of the month.
The food bank has had to turn away people, she said.
Still, LiWang is happy if she can at least help prevent a few family arguments. Sometimes frustration arises when there's not enough money in the household to buy what's needed, she said.
"You can't change the world, but you can sometimes give people a better day, at least," she said.
LiWang is spearheading the effort, but other staff at UC Merced occasionally help. She plans to continue the drive next summer.
She hopes to get more people involved in the effort and has a vision for the drive to grow. The mother of three wants to be able to place collection boxes outside stores such as Target or Wal-Mart so people can remember to donate while shopping.
LiWang collects diapers of all sizes.
"I hope it's making a difference," she said.
Reporter Yesenia Amaro can be reached at (209)385-2482, or yamaro@mercedsun-star.com.
EDITOR'S NOTE: 'Merced Matters' appears every Monday. In it we will tell the stories of Mercedians -- ordinary people doing extraordinary things, extraordinary people doing ordinary things and a lot in between. We hope you like our effort to let you know more about others in our community, and we welcome your suggestions. Please contact Mike Tharp at mtharp@mercedsun-star.com or (209) 385-2456 with your ideas for 'Merced Matters.'
Read more: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/09/12/2039356/uc-merced-professor-leads-diaper.html#ixzz1XmIZyx1Y
A comment in the Sun Star Blog mentioned they would prefer that people didn't donate Koch Industries diapers and paper. So what are the Koch Industries products and why are people against them.
A wiki research found that they are Georgia Pacific products. They are Brawny, Angel Soft, Mardi Gras, Quilted Northern, Dixie and Sparkle.
What is concerning about Koch family industries? They are a leading anti climate change supporter company. While they have been cited for improvement in their ecological development of refinery type development, they have been severely chastised by the green community for not informing their neighbors of toxic spills or potential ecological disasters to air and water tables.
So donate some diapers and toliet paper but know what you are buying when it is angel soft. Quilted Northern, or Brawny.
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