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Grant will help babies, and families

Thanks to the Help Them To Hope grant and the Lake County News-Sun, we are busy planning for the future.

Your generous contribution to Keeping Families Covered means that you believe in, and understand, just how important our mission to provide clean diapers to babies is to the community. The funds will support our diaper distribution program, which provides free diapers to children through our diaper bank and mobile diaper pantry. Because of generous donors like you, we gave away over 1.2 million diapers in 2021. Thank you for your willingness to help us in our efforts to provide basic needs and support to families across Lake County.

One in three families in our community goes without the basic supplies they need to live healthy lives. We are on a mission to change that, and provide diapers to our littlest neighbors in need. Studies show that babies who are left in wet diapers or are in reused diapers are at higher risk for infections, long-term illness and even child abuse. With your generosity and partnership, we can advocate for these families and help them live better lives.

Keeping Families Covered is driven to address the silent crisis of diaper need in Lake County because no assistance programs cover diapers for babies. We do this by raising funds to purchase diapers at highly discounted prices, hosting diaper drives with community partners/supporters and advocating for families/children in Lake County who need our help.

We are so grateful for your gift, and that you have joined us in the fight to end diaper need in our community. We know that diapers change lives and with your help, we are changing the lives of Lake County families for the better. Diapers are a basic need for children — as essential to their health and well-being as food, shelter and a parent’s love. Yet many families struggle to afford diapers and limited resources exist to help them, so we help to fill the gap. Our diaper distribution program is critical to meeting the current and future needs of the most vulnerable residents in Lake County. The support we receive from Help Them To Hope and the Lake County News-Sun enables us to continue impacting the lives of families in an immediate and positive way.

A diaper is a small thing, but it can impact big things. Thanks to you, we will be able to restore stability and hope to families by providing them with a sufficient supply of diapers for their children. We currently serve over 1,800 children each month, and your grant will enable us to provide a one-month supply of diapers to over 270 children. Diapers allow parents to keep their children clean, dry and healthy. Diapers provide parents with a gateway to access early childhood education for their children. Diapers mean that parents will not miss work or school because the diaper supply ran out. Diapers mean that there is a little more money in the budget for food or utilities. Diapers mean everything to struggling families and to the littlest members of our community.

I look forward to sharing our continued success with you. In the meantime, if you would like to schedule a visit to see the difference that your gift is making, please contact me at 224-637-1644.

Please accept my sincerest gratitude for your gift. Thanks to your ongoing support, we can continue our work to transform our community and our world by providing children with the basics they need to thrive.

Ann Marie Mathis, founder & CEO, Keeping Families Covered

Thanks for being our heroes

We are so grateful to be a recipient of a Help Them to Hope grant again this year. As Mr. Rogers said, “Anyone who does anything to help a child in his or her life is a hero.” Thanks to all that donated to this campaign for being heroes.

This grant will be used to answer the calls for assistance by our service partners on behalf of so many in need. It may provide new clothes. It may provide for a car seat to keep a newborn safe. It may provide for a bed or bedding to make sure a child is warm and well-rested. Or it may provide a child the opportunity to play a sport, learn to play a musical instrument or experience the joy of summer camp. Last summer, a record 252 children attended summer camp through MTF grants when they needed it more than ever and after a year of remote learning.

In 2021, over 2,600 children were impacted by MTF grants and programs for basic needs, stable housing and enrichment opportunities. We could not do what we do without our loyal donors like those that give through Help Them to Hope.

Thank you, Help Them to Hope, for your partnership over the years in providing hope for better days to Lake County children and families. Thank you for helping build confidence. Thank you for making a difference, one child at a time.

Paula Turelli, executive director, Mothers Trust Foundation