Changing Diapers, Changing Lives

The Holland Junior Welfare League Does It Again!

After nine decades, Holland Junior Welfare League just keeps giving

 

Cassandra Lybrink
The Holland Sentinel

Published 6:01 a.m. ET April 15, 2022

HOLLAND — When Nestlings Diaper Bank began its fundraiser for a truck of diapers in January, the organization didn’t expect the price tag to jump $18,000 higher.

Hopes for the truck — which would’ve covered between two-thirds and three-quarters of the community’s diaper need for 2022 — were dashed.

More: Nestlings Diaper Bank hopes to raise 40K in January for truck of diapers

More: Cassandra Lybrink: It shouldn’t be this hard to start a family

But Holland Junior Welfare League was just getting started.

For nine decades, HJWL has raised money and performed service projects for children in the greater Holland area. The local nonprofit is managed by women, all of whom volunteer their time. The organization hosts two fundraisers per year — and last year, it broke records.

“We have so much to give this year,” said HJWL Vice President Lindsey Rautiola. “Our fundraisers are entirely underwritten, which means our businesses and some of our members and alumni members donate funds and prizes for raffles. That means everything we make goes straight back into the community. It’s such a beautiful, wonderful thing.”

In 2021, HJWL raised $90,000.

“It was the largest amount we’ve ever raised,” Rautiola said. “We raised $60,000 in December alone. We really wanted to do something big to honor the ladies who’ve come before us and the goal of HJWL. So, we carved out an extra $10,000 and had our members nominate organizations to receive it.”

At the same time, HJWL was sifting through applications from nonprofits seeking grant money to fund programs for children. In total, the nonprofit received 37 applications and — after investigating each proposal — fully or partially funded 32 of them.

For the first time in the organization’s history, HJWL organized a series of check presentations for each grant. The presentations splattered the social media pages of organizations like Outdoor Discovery Center and Holland Aquatic Center, which received $4,500 and $3,000, respectively.

“It was honestly one of the best things I’ve ever done,” Rautiola said. “It was super rewarding and so well received.”

A check presentation was also organized for Nestlings, which received $4,000. But during HJWL’s bi­annual fundraiser Thursday, April 14, the diaper bank was surprised with the additional $10,000.

“The first-ever grant Nestlings received was from HJWL,” Rautiola said. “It was for a printer they still have today. We’ve given to them for the past decade. The need for diapers, it shouldn’t exist. It blows my mind.”

The additional $10,000 will purchase 15 skids of diapers for Nestlings, Rautiola said. To learn more or donate to HJWL, visit hjwl.org.

— Contact reporter Cassandra Lybrink at cassandra.lybrink@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on Instagram @BizHolland.

See the full article at: https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/news/nonprofits/2022/04/15/after-nine-decades-holland-junior-welfare-league-just-keeps-giving/7288969001/

Gold Coast Doulas Holds Fourth Annual Charity Diaper Drive

Gold Coast Doulas is holding their fourth annual diaper drive benefitting Nestlings Diaper Bank and First Steps of Kent County. Their goal is to collect 40,000 diapers to support families in need in Kent and Ottawa and Allegan counties.

Diaper donations will be from Sept. 1 to October 1 at the following partnered drop-off locations: Smedley Dental and the Howard Miller Library in Zeeland; Untangled Salon, Great Legs Winery Brewery Distillery, Brann’s Steakhouse & Grill, Harbor Health and Massage, EcoBuns Baby + Co, Harbor Health and Massage and The Insurance Group in Holland; Hudsonville Congregational United Church of Christ in Hudsonville, ABC Pediatrics locations in Walker and Wyoming, Hulst Jepsen Physical Therapy in East Grand Rapids, Ada Christian Reformed Church in partnership with FIT4MOM Grand Rapids, Rise Wellness Chiropractic PLC, Gold Coast Doulas, Mindful Counseling (both locations), Grand Rapids Natural Health, Pediatric Dental Specialists of West Michigan, Crossfit616 in partnership with BIRTHFIT Grand Rapids, MomHIVE, West End, and Hopscotch Children’s Store in Grand Rapids.

Visit https://www.goldcoastdoulas.com/gold-coast-doulas-4th-annual-diaper-drive/ for more information.
The Gold Coast diaper drive coincides with National Diaper Need Awareness week, Sept. 23– Sept. 29, Diaper Need Awareness Week is an initiative of the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN), created make a difference in the lives of the nearly 5.2 million babies in the U.S. aged three or younger who live in poor or low-income families. www.nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org. Diapers are a basic health necessity for babies and are not provided by government assistance programs, but are one of the top un-met needs to low income families.
Diaper sizes 4, 5 and 6 are the most needed sizes. Nestlings also accepts baby wipes, used and new cloth diapers and open packages of diapers in addition to new boxes and bags of disposable diapers. Donations can also be made online at: http://nestlings.org/how-to-help/donate-and-shop-via-amazon/

About Gold Coast Doulas: Gold Coast Doulas is the area’s first doula agency offering birth doula support, overnight and daytime postpartum doula support, lactation consultations, childbirth classes and more. They serve Greater Grand Rapids and the lakeshore communities. www.goldcoastdoulas.com

About Nestlings Diaper Bank: Nestlings has distributed over 600,000 diapers and helped over 18,000 families since 2011. Nestlings also works with 31 partner agencies to distribute the diapers to the families in need. www.nestlings.org

About First Steps Kent: First Steps is an independent influential and neutral entity that leads the community’s efforts to strengthen and coordinate early childhood services in Kent County. https://www.firststepskent.org

5th Annual Stand Up 4 Baby Comedy Show Fundraiser

20160227_180415Nestlings would like to say THANK YOU to everyone who supported the Stand Up 4 Baby Comedy Show Fundraiser. Everyone is appreciated who helped to make it happen. From the Comedians, Sponsors, Audience, Volunteers, Theatre, Sound Crew, MRC and all our supporters. Without all of you Nestlings could not help the babies. Thanks again!

Nestlings Newsletter Volume #4

Read the latest issue of Nestlings newsletter at this link…

http://nestlings.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/newsletter-volume-4.pdf

newsletter

Thank You Holland Junior Welfare League

20150602_161828A little package of baby wipes is something that may seem common and simple to many, but can provide so much to those in need.

Baby wipes are specially made to cleanse the sensitive skin of babies and infants. Utilizing other papers or towelettes, such as tissue or alcohol based cleaners, can cause rashes and sores on their delicate little skin. Even the way the wipes are packaged becomes important to a baby’s health, since it allows the wipes to stay moist and not be exposed to environmental hazards such as bacteria or dirt. And, most caregivers would agree – you can’t beat the convenience of a portable package of wipes!

In the US today, diaper wipes have become an essential part of diaper changing, particularly because disposable diapers don’t work well to wipe off solids and disposable diapers tend to smear the residue around. Wipes were well researched and invented to make this a more gentle and sanitary process. Baby Wipes make happy babies and happy caregivers.

Thanks to Holland Junior Welfare League, Nestlings has 1,530 new packages of wipes to distribute in our community. The Holland Junior Welfare League is a wonderful supporter of our community’s children, their futures and Nestlings Diaper Bank.

Clean Diapers Helped Me to Become Campaign

20150331_164152

Maybe you are wondering the reason for all these pictures of Nestlings mascot Cheep visiting people holding the sign that says “Clean Diapers Helped Me Become”…

What is it all about? Nestlings is highlighting all types of community members to help show what healthy, happy, clean and dry babies can have the opportunity to grow up and be.

A baby’s brain development is very important in the first few years and positive nurturing is an important part of that developmental stage. Clean and dry diapers play a big role in the nurturing of a baby, its development, learning ability and its future in our community.

The babies and children Nestlings helps are the future business members, company owners, leaders, politicians, bankers, lawyers, police officers, doctors, nurses, service workers, etc. of the communities we live and work in. Why would we not want to help give them every opportunity and tools for a head start toward that future?
It starts with a simple thing.. A clean, dry diaper.

The possibilities are endless that are available to the futures of the children that grow up healthy with clean diapers and Nestlings looks forward to seeing those children grow and thrive in our community. To highlight some of those possible upcoming careers and futures Cheep is visiting all kinds of different community members and posting their pictures to celebrate their accomplishments that growing up with dry, clean diapers helped them to become in life.

Cheep welcomes anyone in our community who wants to participate in the Clean Diapers Helped Me to Become Campaign so feel free to let us know if you would like a visit from Cheep. Follow Nestlings Social Media to see the pictures of our healthy, happy and successful community members.

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