Diaper bank, drive gives Highland Lakes families a little padding
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
MARBLE FALLS — Cathy Lemlyn is definitely committed to the idea of a Highland Lakes diaper bank to assist local families who need a little help keeping their babies and toddlers covered.
She’s already been making the rounds at area businesses and organizations to build support for her endeavor, but on Aug. 8-10, Lemlyn will endure hours of the hot Texas weather outside the Marble Falls Walmart to, hopefully, collect even more diapers.
“I’ll be out there from 9 (a.m.) to 5 (p.m.) probably each day,” she said. The Bluebonnet Trails Early Childhood Intervention program’s service coordinator sees the need for a diaper bank first hand. Many of the clients she works with come from lower economic backgrounds, and diapers are a mounting expense that weighs heavily on them.
But the cost of diapers hits all economic levels, including middle and upper classes, when a child suffers from serious medical conditions.
Lemlyn came up with the diaper bank idea after researching the issue and coming across the Austin Diaper Bank. She just applied the concept to the Highland Lakes.
“This is a problem that most people don’t realize exists,” she said. “But it does.”
Recently, the National Diaper Bank partnered with the Bluebonnet Trails diaper bank, which opens up more funding opportunities. Local businesses have also jumped in to support the cause.
People can help out by donating diapers, baby wipes or money during the Walmart drive or by contacting Lemlyn at catherine.lemlyn@bbtrails.org or (512) 755-0522. The Marble Falls Walmart is located at 2700 U.S. 281.
Lemlyn said if people can’t make the drive, they can contact her and she make arrangements to pick up the donations.
daniel@thepicayune.com