mtoadvine@breezenewspapers.com

She’s called the Diaper Lady in Cape Coral and now she wants to become the Diaper Lady in Lehigh Acres. And with the help of such people as Liz Eilf and others, Rev. Rebecca G. Hines is sure she can bring her Destiny Ministry of Southwest Florida to this area.

“I’m here to help single moms and others with diapers. We’re going to operate the Destiny Diaper Bank,” said. “It is our mission to provide diapers for infants, toddlers, special needs folks and the elderly and we’re the only such diaper bank in this area.”

Hines said she was once a single mom and she understands how much it costs to purchase diapers for those in these hard economic times. Today, her children are grown.

Hines, who is an ordained minister, said that a single pack of newborn diapers can cost as much as $11.

“And for a single infant, 12 changes are needed a day. For a toddler, about eight changes are needed – we’re talking about a cost of $150 a month or upwards,” Hines said. She also mentioned the need of diapers for infants who are born with a disability and will always require diapers and the elderly who have become incontinent, the problem can keep them homebound if they can’t afford the purchase of adult diapers,” she said.

Liz Eilf, the former director of Lehigh Community Services, says she supports the cause and plans to seek permission from area businesses to stand in front of stores where diapers can be purchased. She also plans to ask for financial gifts for the Diaper Bank.

“We don’t approach people who are entering stores,” Hines aid. “We have a truck and it is clearly written that we are seeking diapers – so many times, people approach us. We tell them what we do and that we accept financial gifts or if they prefer, they can buy diapers in the store and drop them off for us when they leave,” she said.

In the Cape and especially at the Wal-Mart on Del Prado Blvd., she is a familiar face for shoppers who shop at the store. The store gives Hines diapers from damaged packages. Eilf plans to approach the Lehigh Acres Wal-Mart to ask for permission to put their van in front of the store and ask customers for money and/or diapers for the bank.

“We’ll use those diapers collected in Lehigh to stay in the community. They won’t go to another community,” Hines said.

It’s Eilf’s hope, too, to ask others to volunteer in Lehigh to stand in front of other stores, such as supermarkets, where diapers are sold inside, and even other merchants who support the cause.

Hines noted that during these economic times, the cost or diapers is expensive for young families. The costs of diapers are often devastating for many, if not most young mothers.

She said programs that help the needy such as the federal and state food stamp program, WIC, Medicare and Medicaid do not cover the cost of diapers. She also said most organizational or church food banks do not carry an adequate supply of diapers in all the sizes and needs.

Day care centers or schools for special needs children will not accept cloth diapers and require parents and caregivers to provide a steady supply of disposable diapers and wipes, she said.

While cloth diapers can be washed properly, most people living in poverty do not have affordable access to washing facilities and also, coin-operated laundromats won’t allow customers to wash cloth diapers for sanitary reasons.

In a special handout, given to shoppers entering area stores, there are ways listed that the public can help, Hines said.

You can host a diaper drive at your child’s school. She said churchgoers can inform their leaders in their churches and explain how their support can make a difference.

Hosting a diaper drive at where you work is another idea and asking your business to support you is yet another way to help. You can also volunteer to help collect diapers.

Hines said that a gift of $2,500 can purchase 20,000 diapers for around 482 families for one month.

A gift of $450 can bring diapers to 56 families that received diapers from their center in only one and a half weeks. A gift of $299 will supply diapers for one month. And $30 will provide diaper changes to one special needs child for one week.

One of the spin-offs of the Destiny Ministries of Southwest Florida, Hines said, is that parents who have received help with diapers often donate furniture such as cribs and bassinettes for other families. They also bring in clothes that their small children have outgrown to be shared with other infants and toddlers.

Hines said the mission is simple: it is to ensure that families living in poverty have an adequate supply of diapers for their infants, toddlers, special needs children and that the elderly are able to maintain a quality of life.

Barbara Stowe, the owner of Our Creations Florist at 411 Lee Blvd., located in the same building as The Lehigh Acres Citizen, across from Truly Nolen, has agreed to be a place for the storage of diapers. You can bring them there.

Hines said she and her husband made a decision a year ago to sell their home and downgrade their lifestyle so they can devote time to this ministry.

“It’s really about being able to help. It’s an area of great expense that most people don’t know about. Helping a family with diapers can help a mom to return to work, to school because of the added financial gift,” Hines said.

The Destiny Ministries has a storefront at 1510 SE 46th Lane in Cape Coral. The expenses are being borne by Hines and her husband and those who help them financially.

“We want to get the word out in Lehigh that we are here to help. We can take referrals from churches and social agencies or from families who are suffering economically because of the cost of diapers. The United Way House at 1303 Homestead Rd can also make referrals.

“God gave me a vision five years ago that this type of service is needed and since then it has snowballed,” Hines said.,

For those who want to help out with purchasing diapers said the greatest need is sizes 3, 4, and 5. She noted that financial gifts give her the opportunity to purchase diapers at wholesale cost or even less if bought in large amounts.

Hines wants to talk to the Lehigh Chamber of Commerce during one of the upcoming monthly luncheons and explain her program and ask for their support.

For more information, you can contact Rev. Rebecca G. Hines at 239-549-2130 or by emailing her at: diaperlady@embarqmail.com. You can also get more information by going online at: destinydiapersbank.com.