Donations accepted
at April 26 event

AUBURN — The Rebecca Foundation’s Cloth Diaper Closet, a nonprofit organization based out of San Antonio, Texas, has announced the opening of a new chapter in Auburn. Terri Hutchinson will serve as the chapter president, and will represent the organization locally.

“We are extremely happy and proud that we are able to expand our reach into communities that are in desperate need of reusable diaper services. We are thrilled to partner with Terri on this endeavor,” said TRFCDC founder Amanda La Bell.

“Due to economic hardships and the perpetually rising cost of disposable diapers, many families are finding it increasingly difficult to purchase one of the most basic necessities in raising a child … diapers,” La Bell said. “With this new chapter opening, we are thrilled to be able to get reusable diapers into the hands of many families that do not have any other options available to them.”

To contact the Central Maine chapter, call 855-687-3232, ext. 826, or email [email protected].

“Great Cloth Diaper Change” events will be held Saturday, April 26, at Central Street Farmhouse in Bangor and at Maine Cloth Diaper Company in Damariscotta. The events are part of a quest to set a new Guinness World Record.

Hutchinson will be attending the Bangor event and will accept donations from participants. The group gladly accepts cloth diapers of all types, including new, used, repairable or delaminated, or handmade, as well as inserts of all types, including prefolds, microfiber and natural fibers.

Also accepted are accessories, diaper sprays/pals, detergents, wet bags, cloth wipes, coconut oil, CD safe creams/salves and more.

Some of the chapters will accept the following: Clothes, shoes, breastfeeding supplies, toys, baby carriers or other items that would be beneficial to a struggling family.

Anyone not able to make it to the event can send me an email to [email protected] or can like the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/trfcdc.cmaine and message Hutchinson there to set up a meet.

TRFCDC was founded in Maryville, Tenn., in August 2012 after founder Amanda La Bell’s then 9-year-old daughter, Rebecca, asked why more families didn’t use cloth diapers. She did not understand that some families could not afford the initial start-up cost associated with cloth diapers and asked her mom to do something to help those families.

A program was created to provide families an alternative to the disposable diaper banks in their community. In August 2012, the foundation opened its doors and began to provide assistance to families in need locally. In March 2013, TRFCDC began opening chapters across the United States. There now are 42 chapters across the country.

Families who are on a government assistance program such as WIC, food stamps or Medicare can complete an application for assistance. Approved applicants will be provided with reusable diapers, on loan, for up to one year after the completion of a cloth diaper 101 class, that covers the care and use of the diapers. Each family on the loan program “pays it forward” by volunteering within the foundation a minimum of two hours each month.

For more information or to find a chapter near you, log onto www.therebeccafoundation.org.