BY TIMOTHY LAROCHE
[email protected]
CLAREMONT — When the call went out that the TLC Family Resource Center needed diapers, a group of volunteers began collecting donations in secret. On Friday, the staff of REMIX revealed their collection efforts, turning over enough diapers and sanitary wipes to fill the bed of a small pick-up truck.
“At the end of February, we had collected over 2,500 diapers from the community,” REMIX Founder Jimmie Neilsen said after unveiling the mountain of diapers. “That’s worth a clap.”
After the board of directors for REMIX, an all-volunteer sober nightclub, pledged to match every diaper donated by the community, Neilsen handed over more than 5,000 diapers and 3,000 sanitary wipes to TLC representatives. REMIX volunteers waited until the last moment to tell staff from the non-profit about the donation that doubled the total.
“I hope you have a big truck or can take multiple trips,” Neilsen half-joked to TLC staff. “It’s a good thing you don’t have to go too far.”
TLC will use the donation to distribute diapers to area families in need, TLC Finance Director Jo-Ann Kleyensteuber said. The organization offers parenting support programming throughout Sullivan County and lower Grafton County.
“Families in our local community often just walk into the center when their funds are low and they ask if we have diapers, wipes or formula on hand,” Kleyensteuber said. “When our parent educators go into homes and they know that the families are in need, they’ll bring a pack of diapers.”
In January, staff posted on TLC’s social media pages a request for community donations to replenish the organization’s stores of the child-care products. With the average newborn using as many as 10 diapers every day, the stocks can be used quickly.
REMIX staff saw the post and decided to start collecting donations from the community. As Neilsen explained, REMIX’s mission is not only to support residents in recovery, the organization also supports other area non-profits.
“Our team huddled and said, ‘Hey, this is a tangible, practical way that we can meet a need’ and we put it out there that whatever gets donated, REMIX will match one for one,” Neilsen said. “I grabbed the REMIX wallet and said, ‘Oh boy, this could drain the bank account.’”
After more than a month of collecting donations, REMIX staff “cleaned out” a local Walmart with more than two full cartloads of diapers for the organization’s match. With the heavy lifting done, TLC staff will to find a way to transport their unexpected haul back to the center.
But as Neilsen noted shortly before presenting the donation, that’s a good problem to have.
“We really appreciate what you’ve done here,” Kleyensteuber said. “It’s really amazing.”
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