DENVER — Colorado’s biggest diaper bank can’t keep up with demand right now, as hundreds of migrant families have turned to them for help.
WeeCycle reports a 52% increase in demand for diapers at their events during one month, and a 66% increase in attendance at the organization's mobile markets from September to December. WeeCycle said almost 2,500 children came to distribution events in January.
“It felt like we were really busy going into this, and [the migrant situation] is like an extra layer on top of that,” said Morgan Seibel, WeeCycle executive director. “A lot of the support systems put in place during the pandemic expired. We were seeing an increased demand from families already here. Now we just have even more families that need help.”
Beyond diapers, WeeCycle also provides other baby supplies: formula, wipes, car seats and strollers. But like other organizations working with migrants, this one is struggling to keep up.
“And it’s just in conversations with all of them that everybody is beyond capacity. We’re all struggling to try and keep up with demand and quite frankly aren’t able to,” Seibel said.
“It’s really hard. It’s hard to look at somebody and be out of a formula they need, or a size of diapers they need – to not be able to provide a crib, a pack-n-play, a car seat,” she continued. “These items that are really essential to keeping a child healthy and safe, so it does not feel good to have to turn people away.”
WeeCycle is asking for the community’s help with monetary donations to purchase supplies, or to consider donating items (baby gear, diapers, wipes, and formula). They’re also encouraging people to volunteer.
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