Good Shepherd helps launch diaper bank

From Chicago-

As part of its faith-based ministry, Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital has joined with other local agencies to launch the new Diaper Bank Partnership of Lake County.

This program is an extension of the St. Paul Diaper Bank Partnership started in 2009 in McHenry County by The Rev. Jim Swarthout, former rector of St. Paul Episcopal Church in McHenry. Swarthout now serves as the secretary for the National Diaper Bank and is the executive director of the Samaritan Interfaith Counseling Center of the Northwest Suburbs.

Swarthout said he began organizing a diaper bank after an individual came into the food pantry of his church. While the person was getting food, Swarthout held the baby and noticed the baby needed to be changed. He told the woman and she said her family could only afford two diapers a day, so she had to clean out the diaper and put it back on the baby. Swarthout began doing research and came across a diaper bank in New Haven, Conn., which he used to start a bank in McHenry County.

“The idea of a diaper bank is to support a person in need during a difficult time,” Swarthout said.

Chaplain Sam Martinez of Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, also congregational coordinator and Hispanic liaison, said the need for diapers in Lake County was brought to attention by the community. The whole coalition, which includes social service agencies and churches in Wauconda, Barrington, Ela and Cuba townships, will host diaper drives and fundraisers throughout Lake County to stock the bank. Diapers will be stored in an empty warehouse at The Nut and Candy House, next door to the Wauconda Township offices.

More here-

http://lakezurich.suntimes.com/news/community/10124403-417/good-shepherd-helps-launch-diaper-bank.html