Task Force hopes to cover a forgotten need

GLENDALE — For homeless mothers like Charice Duran, the most fundamental items are often hard to come by.

“Without help, I probably would have to have a wet diaper on my children just to get through the day,” said Duran, a homeless mother of two and client of PATH Achieve Glendale, the city’s main homeless services provider.

With that in mind, the Glendale Domestic Violence Task Force on Wednesday kicked off a two-week “Diaper Drive” with the goal of collecting 20,000 diapers to distribute to homeless families.

“Most people don’t think of diapers as a staple of life for a family in need,” said Kim Tracy Prince, the Southern California representative for the California-based nonprofit Help a Mother Out. “But it really is.”

Help a Mother Out, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to diapers for needy families, and the Glendale Rotary Club, which has committed to collecting at least 5,000 diapers, are partnering with the task force to support the drive.

Formed this year, Glendale Domestic Violence Task Force is made up of a variety of agencies working to increase coordination of services to prevent domestic violence and provide support to its victims.

The diaper drive concept was hatched when the task force discussed the Glendale Police Department’s response to domestic violence calls and new motel voucher program, officials said.

“If they have to respond and remove the mom and children in a hurry, they may not have time to think about grabbing enough diapers,” said Natalie Komuro, executive director of PATH Achieve Glendale and a member of the task force. “Having a supply of diapers can ease what is already a tremendously stressful situation.”

Diaper donations will be accepted through Dec. 14 at drop-off locations throughout the city and then be distributed to local service providers.

FYI

Donation Spots

Glendale City Hall lobby, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County Glendale branch, Glendale Police Department lobby, PATH Achieve Glendale, YWCA of Glendale, Glendale Central Library, Armenian Relief Society, Color Me Mine of Glendale, Bellies, Babies & Bosoms in the Montrose Shopping Park, Braces by Bergh, Arroyo Insurance, The Little Gym