Conscious Party: Brews for Babies

BOTTOM LINE: Stephanie Krucher and her husband, Theo, started Babies Need Bottoms in December 2017. Since then, the nonprofit diaper bank's volunteers have distributed over 22,000 diapers to WNC families. Photo courtesy of Babies Need Bottoms

WHAT: An outreach event and fundraiser to benefit Babies Need Bottoms

WHEN: Sunday, July 29, 5-7 p.m.

WHERE: Wedge at Foundation, 5 Foundy St.

WHY: Until Stephanie Krucher and her husband, Theo, started the nonprofit Babies Need Bottoms, there was no diaper bank in Western North Carolina.

“Because 46 percent of children in Buncombe County live at or near poverty, diaper need awareness has never been more important,” Krucher says. “We are working to continue to increase awareness to ensure all WNC babies have access to clean, dry diapers.”

Since December 2017, the community-funded and volunteer-run organization has distributed over 22,000 diapers, collected from the community and purchased at a highly discounted rate with its nonprofit diaper bank status. Over that time, Babies Need Bottoms has also grown from one community partner to 11 with organizations on the waiting list to receive diapers.

“We are always in need of diapers, specifically pull-ups of all sizes as we can’t purchase pull-ups at a discount,” Krucher says. “We always appreciate donated diapers of any size, in or out of packaging.”

Krucher and her colleagues are working to secure funding, expand community partnerships and find a warehouse or office space to expand their operations. They currently work out of a storage unit and are always needing more volunteers to help sort, wrap and deliver diapers.

To raise awareness about Babies Need Bottoms and raise funds for its diaper programs, the nonprofit will hold Brews for Babies, its first fundraising and outreach event, on Sunday, July 29, 5-7 p.m. at Wedge Brewing Co.’s Foundation location.

“We will have raffles, a diaper collection bin and the option to donate via cash or credit card,” Krucher says. “Although beverage sale proceeds are not directly benefitting Babies Need Bottoms, The Wedge has been a supportive partner in hosting our community events and we hope attendees will support them. Community members interested in volunteering can sign up for short-term and long-term projects.”

Raffle tickets will be sold in packs of 5 for $5. Items have been donated by Asheville Food Tours, Asheville Brewing Co., Poppy Popcorn, Buchi Kombucha and other local businesses.

Also helping the organization increase awareness about diaper need in WNC are informational brochures that its team created at the inaugural Make a Mark Asheville in late June. Babies Need Bottoms was one of eight local humanitarian nonprofits selected to work with local makers who donated their time and talent to help the groups create professionally designed materials.

Brews for Babies takes place Sunday, July 29, 5-7 p.m. at Wedge at Foundation, 5 Foundy St.. Free to attend. babiesneedbottoms.org

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About Edwin Arnaudin
Edwin Arnaudin is a staff writer for Mountain Xpress. He also reviews films for ashevillemovies.com and is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association (SEFCA) and North Carolina Film Critics Association (NCFCA). Follow me @EdwinArnaudin

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One thought on “Conscious Party: Brews for Babies

  1. boatrocker

    Man, them babies are drunk on local overpriced brew.
    Just look at them, they can’t even walk or talk,
    are stumbling around like toddlers and one of them lost
    their shoes.
    Where are the cops when you need them?

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