Have you heard about the Kyleigh’s Gift Diaper Drive, but aren’t sure what it is? Keep reading to find answers to all of your Diaper Drive questions!
What is the Kyleigh’s Gift Diaper Drive? The Kyleigh’s Gift Diaper Drive began in the Spring of 2015, to honor and remember Kyleigh Elizabeth Weller on her 3rd birthday. The Kyleigh’s Gift Fund had already been established shortly after Kyleigh passed away on her birthdate, April 5, 2012, and we were inspired by our friend, Michele, and the Blair’s Foster Socks Birthday Project, to do something similar where we could give back to the community. The idea of diapers came to mind, and the first Diaper Drive was created. The first year brought in 7,000+ diapers! It was so succesful that we decided to continue with diapers every year. Last year, in 2020, the Diaper Drive brought in 30,000+ diapers, making the six year total over 100,000 diapers!!
Why diapers? It is estimated that over 20,000 children face diaper need every year in the Kansas City community. Diapers are costly and not always readily available for those in greatest need. Diapers are not covered by programs such as WIC and food stamps. Parents/guardians often go without other basic necessities in order to provide diapers for their child(ren). Babies and toddlers are happier and healthier when they have fresh, clean diapers!
Is the diaper drive held at the same time every year? The Diaper Drive is always held in the spring. The Diaper Drive always overlaps Kyleigh’s birthday, April 5, but the exact beginning and ending dates vary from year to year.
Where is the diaper drive? The Kyleigh’s Gift Diaper Drive is on online event. It is not an event that you attend in person.
Who benefits from the diaper drive? Newborns all the way up to toddlers benefit from the diapers donated during the Diaper Drive. In the past, diapers have been distributed to non-profit organizations, such as, HappyBottoms, Lee’s Summit Social Services and North Star Baby Grace. All of these organizations are social service agencies that distribute diapers to families in need according to their own guidelines. Our family chooses what organizations we donate the diapers to and this can change from year to year. Starting in January 2020, the Kyleigh’s Gift Diaper Program began and many of the diapers from the Diaper Drive now go towards the Diaper Program. See the next question for more information.
What is the Kyleigh’s Gift Diaper Program? In January 2020, Kyleigh’s Gift, under the direction of Liberty Hospital Foundation, began the Kyleigh’s Gift Diaper Program. Families of newborns at Liberty Hospital Birthing Center who qualify for diaper assistance, receive a bundle of 75 diapers upon discharge from the hospital. The parent/guardian may choose from size newborn or size one diapers and must reside in one of the following Missouri counties: Clay, Platte, Clinton, Caldwell or Ray. This is a one time distribution per family and education on further assistance is provided. All diapers used for the Kyleigh’s Gift Diaper Program come directly from the Kyleigh’s Gift Diaper Drive or are purchased using funds from Kyleigh’s Gift.
How can I donate diapers? Links to online Wish Lists will be posted on the first day of the Diaper Drive. We often use Amazon, Target and Wal-Mart. Once the online wish lists are made available, simply click on the wish list of your choice and begin shopping!
What about shipping? When purchasing diapers through the Kyleigh’s Gift Diaper Drive wish lists, the diapers are shipped directly to our house. Simply choose the ‘Kyleigh’s Gift’ mailing address at checkout. Please note that our address is hidden from the purchasers view to protect our privacy. At the conclusion of the Diaper Drive, we deliver the diapers to the organization(s) of our choice (see question #6).
How do I know my order arrived? As the purchaser, it is up to you to track your order, if desired. Amazon does a great job of sending the purchaser notifications of when your gift has shipped, as well as, when it was delivered. If you want us to know who sent the diapers, fill out the appropriate gift options during check-out. Otherwise, the diapers will be sent anonymously.
Do you have drop-off locations? There are no drop-off locations for 2021.
What do I do if I have diapers to drop off?Contact us and we will work something out! We do not want to miss out on any diapers. If you know us personally, and know where we live, feel free to leave them on our front porch. For our families privacy, we do not give out our home address to those we do not personally know.
Are monetary donations accepted? Yes! To donate, click here. All monetary donations received through this link are used to purchase diapers for the Kyleigh’s Gift Diaper Program at Liberty Hospital Birthing Center.
What size of diapers do you accept? All sizes! Our wish lists only contain size newborn, 1, 5 and 6. This is because these sizes are the greatest need for the Kyleigh’s Gift Diaper Program and within the community. However, we will accept all sizes.
Can I donate opened packages? Yes! As long as the diapers are undamaged we will take them!
What about Pull-Ups, swim diapers and wipes? Pull-Ups/disposable training pants and swim diapers are accepted. We pass these on to our partner agencies. While we will accept new, unopened packages of wipes, our main focus is diapers.
Can I donate cloth diapers? Unfortunately, no. We only accept disposable diapers. The main reason for this is because many of the families who experience diaper need use shared laundry facilities, either in the form of a laundromat or an apartment complex. These type of facilities do not allow cloth diapers to be laundered in their machines due to sanitary reasons.
What do I do if my baby/toddler needs diapers? If you are a current patient at Liberty Hospital Birthing Center, ask to speak to the Birthing Center Social Worker and fill out the Kyleigh’s Gift Diaper Assistance Application. If you are not a current patient, the following agencies can provide assistance (residency requirements may apply):
In honor of Kyleigh’s 9th Birthday, we are hosting a DIAPER Drive from April 5-19. This is our seventh year of remembering Kyleigh through the gift of DIAPERS. Over 100,000 DIAPERS have been collected since the DIAPER Drive began in 2015. Last year, the DIAPER Drive began just as the world was shutting down due to COVID-19. DIAPERS were hard to come by, often being out of stock or purchases were limited to 1-2 packages. The drop-off locations were canceled, limiting our options to online shopping only. We debated canceling the DIAPER Drive altogether so as to not take the stock away from those who needed it in the moment. Then we decided to carry on since so many rely on DIAPERS every day of the year, and we wanted to help provide for that need in the days, weeks and months ahead. We weren’t sure what to expect. Well, as always, you all blew us out of the water! The 2020 DIAPER Drive collected a total of 30,051 DIAPERS!!! During a pandemic of all things. That brought our all time total to over 100,000 DIAPERS! We continue to be amazed year after year as so many join together to donate DIAPERS!
The need for DIAPERS has increased over the last 12 months, just within the walls of Liberty Hospital. From July-December 2019, 9,450 DIAPERS were given to families in need. That is 126 bundles of 75 DIAPERS. During this same time period in 2020, 199 bundles were given to families, equaling 14,925 DIAPERS. It is clear that COVID-19 has put an additional strain on many families. More and more families are seeking assistance and we want to be there for them.
This year’s DIAPER Drive will look very similar to last year. We will not have community drop-off locations, but we will provide you with ways to help spread the word and ideas on how to hold a mini-DIAPER Drive of your own. The more people we can reach, the more DIAPERS we can provide to those in need. Watch for more information coming soon, as well as, a DIAPER Drive FAQ.
Join us for this year’s DIAPER Drive, April 5-19, to honor Kyleigh on her birthday and to help provide this basic health need for so many infants and toddlers.
Diapers will be shipped directly to us when you choose the Kyleigh’s Gift shipping address. Personalize a gift receipt if you want to include your name or a special message, otherwise, the diapers are sent anonymously.
Online monetary donations are also accepted and will go towards the purchase of additional DIAPERS in size newborn and size one. All online donations are handled through Liberty Hospital Foundation.
Thank you for helping us remember our baby girl on her 9th Birthday while keeping babies clean and dry!
**Please note that this is not an actual event that you attend. The dates of the event denote the days that we are collecting diapers and you may donate at any time during those dates.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
Kyleigh's Gift 