Due to COVID-19, the Junior Women’s League of Smithfield has announced the 5th Annual Touch-A-Truck event will not be held this year. Instead, the organization plans to fill a truck full of diapers to support the Partnership for Children of Johnston County instead. They are now collecting diapers, wipes, and monetary donations to assist the PFCJC in the creation of a diaper closet for families in need.
“While we are disappointed that we can’t spend a morning exploring our favorite trucks to benefit the Partnership for Children, the Junior Women’s League of Smithfield recognizes this great need in our community still exists,” said Dana Satterfield and Destiny Savage, the event’s co-chairs. “Instead of focusing on what the pandemic has taken away, we are choosing to focus on what we can still do to make a difference in the lives of children in Johnston County and we appreciate the support this initiative has received.”
Diaper Need is a public health issue in the US, and it has never been more evident than throughout 2020. Diapers are as essential to a child’s basic needs as food and shelter. Yet, state and national safety net programs do not recognize diapers as a “basic need.” One in five moms said they had run out of money for diapers. One in four said they cut back on food to pay for diapers. One in 20 said they have washed out and reused disposable diapers. It takes 7-10 diapers a day to keep a child’s bottom clean at a cost of roughly $80-$100 per month.
Please get involved. Donate diapers. Donate your time. Donate your dollars. Visit www.jwlsmithfield.com to find out how you can help locally.
In the meanwhile, plans are already underway for the Touch-A-Truck event next year. It has been scheduled for November 6th, 2021.
About the Junior Women’s League of Smithfield
The Junior Women’s League of Smithfield is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote voluntarism, develop the potential of women and improve the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. JWL’s impact has been significant. Since the league’s establishment in February 2016, JWL has donated $90,000 in donations to Johnston County nonprofit organizations and completed more than 10,600 hours of community service.
