Diapers are an absolute necessity for babies.

They can use up to 2,800 diapers in their first year alone, a huge expense for families already struggling.

St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids aims to donate 28,000 diapers with just a click of your finger.

Click here to help. 

And click here to view the story.

Mother of four Christina Middlebrooks works hard to meet her family’s bottom line. 

St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids aims to donate 28,000 diapers to families who need them the most. Helping is just a click away on Facebook.

“I work a full-time job, 12 to nine, just like anybody else,” Middlebrooks said. “It is challenging, especially with our economical problems now.”

Her job in customer service and sales sometimes doesn’t cover all the bills for her children, ages 13, 11, nine and two, including all-important diapers.

“You have to have your gas and lights on, you have to be able to pay your rent, and you can’t afford evictions,” she said.

She hit a low after the floods of 2008. Her young family had just 30 minutes to evacuate their Cedar Rapids home and escaped with three outfits a piece.

“It was after the flood and it was bad. It was bad. I was crying about it,” she said.

Then someone told her about Waypoint Center for Women, Children and Families in Cedar Rapids. Which helped with diapers, crucial to her child’s well being.

“You can’t have a kid running around without diapers on,” Middlebrooks said.

The need has only increased. Last year Waypoint saw a 30 percent increase in requests for the most basic needs and top of the list: diapers.

So St. Luke’s Hospital decided to launch a campaign to help the smallest with one of their biggest needs.

It’s called: “Bottom Line: babies need diapers”.

“The families in need, they are in a very difficult position, diapers are very expensive and they are forced then to decide between very basic needs that many of us take for granted,” St. Luke’s Birth Care Center spokesperson Diane Seelau said.

For every new “Like” the hospital receives on Facebook, it will donate a diaper to Waypoint.

Organizers hope Facebook users will help the hospital reach its donation maximum of 28,000 diapers.

“But as mothers, you always figure it out, and when you have resources to come to, to get supplies and diapers, it’s really great,” Middlebrooks said.

Middlebrooks says parents will find a way to care for their children, and sometimes that way comes through the help of others, covering these precious bottom lines.

The diaper drive ends August 20th.  Click here to help!

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 Most parents agree that raising healthy children is the most challenging, yet rewarding job of their lives.

One program helps young moms and dads be the best parents they can be.

You can watch the story by clicking here.

Mother Kristy cannon admits it’s hard being a single parent.

“They help me out with parenting skills. ‘Cuz I was young when I had them. They taught me a lot that I needed to know,” Cannon said. 

Everyone could use a little support. The PASS program helps young parents learn skills necessary to succeed.

At Waterloo’s WYCA Cannon and her four children participate in the PASS program, which stands for Parents Achieving Success with Support.

It welcomes parents ages 20 to 30, and is co-sponsored by the Family and Children’s Council of Black Hawk County.

“We teach parenting and life skills,” program director Cindy Ritter said. “Budgeting, nutrition, healthy relationships, literacy, parent and child interaction.”

PASS meets every second and fourth Wednesday, offering instruction, family activities, a meal and free transportation.

Cannon says pass has helped her become a more patient person.

“If you get frustrated, walk away,” Cannon said.

Father Timothy young came to become a better dad.

“I wish all the fathers in the United States would step up and be role models for their kids,” he said. “I learned about the Heat Index, not to leave a baby in the car seat. How to prepare meals.”

Cannon said, “Being young, I didn’t have experience with kids. It helped me.”

Through positive interaction, support and learning, these parents say the PASS program helps them earn more than a passing grade.

Because of a decrease in funding, the PASS program hasn’t been able to recruit young parents as much as it used to, but they invite any parent, married or single age 20 to 30 to join them at the Waterloo YWCA

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