Ellie Andrews, United Way of Portage County’s No Child’s Wet Behind Community Diaper Drive spokesperson, is pictured with some of the many diapers donated by attendees of the Tomorrow River Conference of the East Central Synod of Wisconsin, led by Good Shephered Lutheran Church in Plover. (Contributed photo)

For the City-Times

United Way of Portage County has collected nearly $4,000 in diapers and monetary donations during its second annual No Child’s Wet Behind Community Diaper Drive, which continues through the Father’s Day weekend.

The event kicked off on Friday, May 9, as organizers of two separate events that day, Leadercast and the Women’s Fund of Portage County, collected donations from attendees. The following week the Tomorrow River Conference of the East Central Synod of Wisconsin, led by Good Shephered Lutheran Church in Plover, collected donations from attendees at its annual assembly.

In addition, local service clubs, churches and schools have held collections to support the diaper drive, along with numerous individuals.

Diapers can be dropped off through Father’s Day weekend Monday through Friday at:

• United Way of Portage County, 1100 Centerpoint Drive, #302, Stevens Point, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Trinity Lutheran Church, 1410 Rogers St., Stevens Point, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 2000 Roosevelt Drive, Plover, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Monetary donations are encouraged, as many distribution partners may be able to take advantage of large quantity pricing. Additionally, storage space is always at a premium and monetary donations allow distribution partners to buy the sizes they need, when they need them. Monetary donations can be dropped off at or sent to United Way of Portage County, c/o No Child’s Wet Behind Community Diaper Drive, 1100 Centerpoint Dr., #302, Stevens Point, WI 54481.

 The primary source for distribution of diapers will be Operation Bootstrap. Emergency and holiday distribution will be provided through other programs serving income-qualified families. Organizations will follow a tracking system and each family they will distribute to will meet established criteria. Requests for diapers should be made through Emergency Services.

For more information, visit the United Way of Portage County website at www.unitedwaypoco.org and click on “Community Diaper Drive, or contact United Way at 715-341-6740 or [email protected].