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06/21/2017 09:15 AMThe Kentucky Derby may be the most exciting two minutes in sports, but Bare Necessities, a nonprofit organization based in Clinton, is confident it can bring an equally exciting 2 or 10 minutes (it’ll depend on the tides) with the return of Ducky Dash for Diapers on the Indian River. Even better, proceeds support the group, which supplies diapers and baby wipes to low-income families in the area.
On Sunday, July 23, Bare Necessities hosts its second annual Ducky Dash for Diapers at 2 p.m. behind Town Hall. For $5, guests can purchase a numbered rubber ducky; on race day, the ducks will be launched upstream, with the first six to make it across the finish line netting some impressive prizes, including a Block Island day trip for two, a wireless smart speaker, and more.
Ducks can be purchased at Hair We Are in Clinton, Connecticut Pharmacy of Madison in Madison, MJW Accounting in Madison, Rambling River Antiques in Westbrook, and Just Hatched in Guilford. Purchase of a duck isn’t required to come down and enjoy a variety of family activities that will accompany the race.
The $5 raised by each duck is enough to supply three days’ worth of diapers to a family in need. Beth Serra Loud, the president of the organization, thought the connection between rubber ducks as a popular toy for young children “fit with the mission” of providing services for young kids.
Bare Necessities was founded in November 2015 to help low income families with children’s toiletry needs, such as diapers and baby wipes.
“We are mainly a diaper bank,” said Loud.
When it started, the organization originally helped 10 families, but now helps 150 families. Bare Necessities is the only diaper bank between New Haven and New London, providing a critical service to families located between the two towns. Loud said the organization would not be able to help as many families as it does without “wonderful, passionate, and dedicated volunteers.”
The organization buys and collects donations, then bundles the supplies together before handing the supplies off to social service agencies to be distributed.
“Social service members know the families better than we do,” said Loud.
Using census data as well as information from the National Diaper Bank Network, Bare Necessities has compiled statistics that show just how important a diaper bank can be. Accoring to the group’s website www.barenecessitiesct.org, one out of every three children in the United States and in Connecticut face a diaper need, which translates to around 40,000 kids in Connecticut. The Yale School of Medicine found that diaper stress is the number one stress for low income families, even more so than food, noting that low-income mothers who cannot afford diapers are also more likely to report symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Loud attributed part of that anxiety to the fact that diapers cannot be purchased under the federal SNAP program. Additionally, infants and toddlers can’t go to daycare without a day’s supply of diapers. This forces parents to miss out on work opportunities because they need to stay home with the children, thus the children then miss out on early education opportunities.
In lieu of a clean diaper, Loud said disadvantaged families often are forced to clean soiled diapers as best they can and reuse them. The unsanitary practice can lead to serious infections for the children. “It’s very sad any child should be exposed and [that] any parent has to do that. I can’t imagine having to choose between food and a diaper,” said Loud.
While the Ducky Dash has proven to be a fun and effective fundraiser, Bare Necessities’ mission is year-round, as is its need to raise funds. To coincide with Diaper Needs Awareness Week, which runs from Monday, Sept. 25 to Sunday, Oct. 1, Bare Necessities will host a dinner dance at the Clinton Country Club on Friday, Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m. Loud said the event will have a “classic feel” and feature live music and an auction. Tickets may be reserved for the event by calling Bare Necessities at 203-928-7558.
Loud said the organization is always looking for new volunteers and donations, which can be made on its website www.barenecessitiesct.org.
“We’re helping 150 families but there’s 150 more that need help,” Loud said.