Press release from N.C. Department of Health and Human Services:
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is celebrating the partnership with Feeding the Carolinas and Diaper Bank of North Carolina. Together, these groups are providing essential items to individuals and families impacted by Hurricane Helene in 28 western North Carolina counties.
NCDHHS ordered a six-month supply of about 11 million diapers for approximately $1.5 million that will be distributed by Diaper Bank of North Carolina in weekly shipments. The Diaper Project includes the 25 counties in western NC for which a major disaster declaration for Individual Assistance was declared and the three counties that are part of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Area.
For those same areas, NCDHHS ordered a four-week supply of infant formula and feeding supplies that is being distributed by the Feeding the Carolinas network. In part, the Formula Project, helps support up to 2,000 babies being served by Manna Food Bank in Asheville, N.C. Manna Food Bank is one of Feeding the Carolinas partners in western North Carolina.
“We are so grateful for these collaborative partnerships that came together to support children and families with critical essential items during this time. The effort by so many organizations and individuals has been incredible and the impact has been tremendous,” said Susan Osborne, NCDHHS Deputy Secretary of Opportunity and Well-Being.
The Diaper Bank of North Carolina has headquarters and a warehouse of diaper supplies and hundreds of portable cribs in Hillsborough, N.C. Credentialed media interested in writing more about the Diaper Project, getting video of the warehouse and speaking with someone at Diaper Bank of North Carolina should contact Michelle Schaefer-Old at michelle@ncdiaperbank.org.
Credentialed media interested in speaking with Feeding the Carolinas about the Formula Project should contact Mike Darrow at mdarrow@feedingthecarolinas.org.
Staff from the NCDHHS Division of Child and Family Well-Being are also available for an interview about these efforts for children and families. Please contact news@dhhs.nc.gov to schedule.
For more information about Hurricane Helene please go to www.ncdhhs.gov/helene or www.ncdps.gov/helene.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.