Student-led diaper drive seeks donations to assist the Parenting Resource Center

Community, Fundraisers, Students

Apr 24, 2024

Yoshua Simms delivering donated diapers to Latoya Turner — Yoshua Simms (right) delivered donated diapers to the Parenting Resource Center, assisted by Latoya Turner, a coach for the Leading Men Fellowship program

Yoshua Simms, an Early Childhood Education (ECE) student and a participant in the Leading Men Fellowship program, as well as other members of the College’s Black Male Initiative (BMI) organization, are collecting donations of diapers and wipes for the Cincinnati State Parenting Resource Center. The drive continues until Friday, May 3.

Yoshua said working in the ECE field has made him aware of how burdensome the cost of diapers is for families. “The Diaper Drive aims to help single parents and low-income families by providing diapers for their children and raising awareness of essential community resources,” Yoshua said.

This is the second diaper drive Yoshua has organized to help families with young children.

In addition, Yoshua is the author of an Opinion column published in the Cincinnati Enquirer on Apr. 10 (and in the Sunday print edition of the Enquirer) that discussed the importance of increasing the number of Black male teachers in U.S. schools, and providing support and encouragement for young men of color who are interested in careers in education.

The diaper drive welcomes donations of new, unopened packages of wipes and diapers in all sizes; however, larger sizes are especially needed (4, 5, 6, and Pull Ups). Open packages of unused diapers, or sleeves of unused diapers, are also accepted.

You can bring donations to the BMI table in the Overlook Cafe area on Monday through Wednesday (Apr. 29, Apr. 30, and May 1) from 12:30 to 3 p.m., or you can drop off donations at the Parenting Resource Center (Main 135).
Monetary donations are accepted also, and will benefit the region’s only diaper bank, Sweet Cheeks.
In addition, Yoshua has set up an Amazon Registry page you can use to purchase diapers or wipes that will be delivered directly to Yoshua, and he’ll bring them to campus for the diaper drive.