Students collect 40 packages of diapers for the Trinity Jubilee Center on Bates Street.

LEWISTON – “In the spirit and enthusiasm that is unique to adolescents, the Team 71 students of Lewiston Middle School belted out a rap song over the PA system, ‘We like dry butts and we cannot lie, so please hurry up and go buy, some Pampers, Luvs.’,” said Pamylah Brown, English/reading teacher.

Prompted by an article in the Sun Journal early in November, the seventh-graders decided to do a diaper drive for the Trinity Jubilee Center, 247 Bates St. Not only did they make daily announcements to encourage people to donate diapers or money, they also expressed their creative abilities by designing posters to appeal to the hearts of the readers. Their efforts paid off.

The team made a presentation on Dec. 19 to Calvin Dube, center program director, and Beth Caito, an AmeriCorps volunteer. While Dube and his associate stood in the front of the auditorium with receptacles in hand, the students paraded in, carrying packages of diapers. They collected more than 40 packages, making a total of 1,505 diapers.

Dube said, “I’m overwhelmed. We’ve never received a donation of this size.” He explained the center is helping about 60 young mothers in Lewiston and Auburn. Generally, they can issue about 12 diapers a week a mom. The mothers can seek out other agencies for more, if necessary.

Dube emphasized to the young people the importance of giving back to the community, that they made a good decision and that they would remember that day for the rest of their lives.