United Way Donates to LAPD’s Temporary Child-Care Project

When her husband, a police officer, had to fashion a diaper from paper towels and Scotch tape for the baby of a drunk-driving suspect, Gina Cunningham decided enough is enough.

Knowing officers often must care for the infant children of crime victims and suspects, Cunningham launched the Temporary Loving Care project. Thursday, about four months later, the United Way responded with $10,000 worth of diapers, bottles, formula, teething toys, baby wipes and car seats for the Los Angeles Police Department.

“Here was one citizen . . . who saw a need and found a way to fill it,” said United Way Senior Vice President Yezdyar S. Kaoosji. “We are glad to have been a part of it.”

The child-care items will be distributed to the LAPD’s 18 divisions. Cunningham, Kaoosji and Police Chief Willie L. Williams said they hope the program will continue from year to year.

“These items may not look like the traditional things you see in a police station, but we need them to do our job every day,” Williams said as he was presented a table full of baby items. “Our people are compassionate, they’re caring, they deal with children every day. This is really another form of community-based policing.”