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WHEREAS, the Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank is marking its fifth anniversary of addressing diaper need, the condition of not having a sufficient supply of clean diapers to ensure that infants and toddlers are clean, healthy and dry; and,
WHEREAS, diaper need can adversely affect the health and welfare of infants, toddlers and their families; and,
WHEREAS, national surveys report that one in three mothers experience diaper need during the time their children are less than three years of age and the average child requires an average of 50 diaper changes per week over three years; and,
WHEREAS, forty-eight percent of families delay changing a diaper to extend their supply; and,
WHEREAS, diaper need is an estimated 74,000 diapers a day in Allegheny County alone; and,
WHEREAS, there are no government assistance programs for the purchase or provision of diapers, and a monthly supply of diapers can cost as much as six percent of a full-time minimum wage worker’s salary, therefore obtaining a sufficient supply of diapers can cause economic hardship to families; and,
WHEREAS, a supply of diapers is generally an eligibility requirement for infants and toddlers to participate in childcare and quality early education programs; and,
WHEREAS, the people of Pittsburgh recognize that addressing diaper need can lead to improved health and economic wellbeing for families and their communities; and,
WHEREAS, the Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank has been addressing this critical need since 2012, providing more than a half million free diapers to 29 social service agency partners in four counties that share its mission and distribute diapers to families in need; and
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare September 26th 2017 to be “Diaper Need Awareness Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.