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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | August 28, 2019 11:06 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Rosita C. Youngblood and Rep. Carol Hill-Evans |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Diaper Need Awareness Week |
| Access to a reliable supply of clean diapers is a necessity for the health and wellbeing of Pennsylvania’s children and incontinent adults. Infants and toddlers with little access to diapers could spend a day or longer in the same diaper. A lack of clean, disposable undergarments for seniors and incontinent adults poses a serious health risk, potentially leading to extended hospital stays, and even death. Furthermore, a supply of diapers is often required for infants and toddlers to attend and participate in childcare programs. For these reasons, we intend to recognize the week of September 23 through September 29, 2019 as Diaper Need Awareness Week in Pennsylvania. According to the National Diaper Bank Network, one in every three mothers finds it difficult to provide diapers for their children, and nearly 5.2 million children under the age of three suffer from diaper need. For seniors on fixed incomes, incontinence products can cost as much as $1,000 a year. Community organizations, such as the 15 recognized diaper banks across Pennsylvania, are doing their part to ease this need by hosting diaper donation drives and providing more than 3.4 million diapers to families in need each year. It is important that we as lawmakers raise awareness for this issue and recognize the efforts of all community organizations that help keep all children and incontinent adults clean, health, and dry. In conjunction with Diaper Need Awareness Week, we will host the 6th Annual Diaper Drive from September 23 through October 4 in the East Wing Rotunda. Last year, we collected more than 5,000 diapers during the event, with donations coming from departments and agencies in all branches of state government. We hope to eclipse that mark this year and continue to show support to diaper banks and programs across the Commonwealth. I hope you will join us in cosponsoring this resolution and participating in our diaper drive! |
Introduced as HR465
Memo Updated: August 28, 2019 11:18 AM