We may be dealing with COVID-19, but there are so many good things that are still happening in Knox and Warren Counties.
Another great example of this good is a recent grant announcement benefiting local nonprofit, Loving Bottoms Diaper Bank. Loving Bottoms Diaper Bank is a grassroots story of founder LeeAnn Porter who unfortunately at one time in her life had to decide whether to buy diapers for her baby versus other essentials. From this experience, years later, LeeAnn established our region’s only diaper bank. The Diaper Bank provides a supplemental supply of diapers and wipes to families in need. Five years ago, Loving Bottoms served Knox County. Today, the nonprofit serves Knox, Warren, Mercer, Peoria, Henry, Stark, Fulton, Tazewell, Henderson, and Rock Island Counties.
Thanks to philanthropy happening at the state level, the Illinois COVID Relief Fund (ICRF) issued Loving Bottoms Diapers Bank a $150,000 grant. This is the largest grant the organization has ever received to date.
LeAnn said in a release about the grant, “Before COVID-19, 1 in 3 families struggled to provide enough diapers to keep their children clean, dry and healthy. On a normal month, our program distributes over 18,000 diapers to more than 360 children and families. We have been a reliable resource for the community since our founding in 2015. The ICRF grant will allow us to take what we are already doing in the community and amplify it. Our goal is to distribute over half a million diapers in the coming months. That will go a long way toward ensuring all babies have clean dry diapers. The ICRF funds will help to support the network of 20 partner agencies that Loving Bottoms already supports. In addition, the diaper bank will be holding drive-thru diaper distributions across the region.”
The ICRF was established by the United Way of Illinois and the Alliance of Illinois Community Foundations, in collaboration with the Office of the Governor. Since the fund was announced on March 26, it has raised more than $30 million from over 2,400 donors.
This is another great example of #SoMuchGoodHappening right now.
