About The Diaper Ladies
The “Original” Diaper Lady
Eileen Rogers, founder of the Annual Baby Diaper Drive, volunteered at Homeward Bound in 1997 and learned that diapers, shampoo, wipes, and other paper products couldn't be purchased with food stamps. She found how expensive formula was and heard stories about mothers who were going without food so they could purchase these various items for their babies. She understood that providing simple items, such as diapers and baby wipes, could make a huge difference in the lives of Homeward Bound families. Inspired by how hard these moms were working for a better life, the idea of the first Baby Diaper Drive was born!
She recruited Ginger Clayton and Susan Haugland and many others to join in this grassroots effort to support and help the moms and children at Homeward Bound.
Ginger and Susan enlisted the resources of their companies and contacts and have added the new and wildly successful Elontec School Diaper Challenge contest as part of the annual drive efforts. In 2010, students from across the Valley collected over 70,000 diapers! While the students collaborated and gathered diapers, they also learned about helping and giving to others. The concept of “Kids Helping Kids” was born from the School Diaper Challenge as the students gained leadership skills and had a whole lot of fun working together.
We invite you to join us for our 13th Annual Baby Diaper Drive. When we reach our annual goal of 100,000 diapers and $75,000 of emergency funds this year, we will have reached our milestone goal of collecting $1,000,000 in total drive contributions for Homeward Bound families! We’d love to have your help!
Meet the Other Diaper Ladies
The Annual Baby Diaper Drive wouldn’t exist without the help of our community, Valley schools, businesses, and organizations that have contributed and made this grassroots effort a reality, which has lasted over 13 years. Behind the scenes is a team of “diaper ladies” who have helped make the annual Baby Diaper Drive happen.
Meet the Baby Diaper Drive Team! We asked each of them to tell us what they do in real life, what they do for the Diaper Drive, and how many diapers they’ve changed in their lifetime.
Ginger Clayton
Baby Diaper Drive Chair
1. I am a wife to my wonderful husband, a mother of five amazing children who I adore, community service advocate and catalyst, devoted to my walk in faith with Christ, and owner of Elontec, a local service provider of technology, telecommunications, and commercial relocation services.
2. My role has evolved over the years from volunteering with my family on diaper delivery day, hosting a drive at my business and a drive in my neighborhood,to now chairing the Diaper Drive. Primarily, I would consider my role as one of engaging other people to get involved and to increase kids helping kids and families helping families here in the valley. I am a huge advocate of the drive for the cause itself but also because it is such an ideal way for families, schools, offices, churches, etc. to bond together while helping other people.
3. I have changed about 61,000 diapers in my lifetime, but I am looking forward to having grandchildren and fully anticipating hitting well over the 200,000 diaper change mark at that point.
Susan Haugland
Baby Diaper Drive Co-Chair
1. I am a business owner, a wife and mother, a volunteer, and a part-time taxi-cab driver! I manage our daily schedules and lives and make sure everyone has what they need. I love to volunteer at both my girls' schools. And, of course, I love to help and support all the team members at BestBill.
2. This year, my main focus is to promote the Baby Diaper Drive to local schools and to encourage them to participate in helping their community. I speak to schools and groups about Homeward Bound, about the families that live there, and why they need a hand up and not a hand out.
3. Too many to count!
Dana Bailey
Director of Marketing Communications & Special Events, Homeward Bound
1. I am an Arizona native and have been married for 20 years. I enjoy scuba diving and creative home improvement projects with my husband. I have two boys (16 & 12 years old). My favorite free-time activity is watching my two boys play on their sports teams – football and soccer. My latest undertaking is family golf outings.
At Homeward Bound, I am the Director of Marketing & Special Events. I am responsible for managing all areas of marketing, communications, the agency's premier fund-raising special events, volunteer program, drives, and donations. I do it with the most dedicated and amazing marketing team!
2. For the Baby Diaper Drive, I work with the client families to share their stories with the community, liaison with the media for interviews, meet with drive hosts, encourage donations for the emergency fund, and search for storage space for the thousands of incoming diapers!
3. How many diapers have I changed? Looking back when my boys were in diapers, I have a fabulous husband who jumped in and changed as many diapers as I did. I estimate I've changed roughly 14,000 diapers. I am a new aunt and look forward to lots of baby time…changing diapers and all!
Becky Burghart
Marketing & Special Event Coordinator, Homeward Bound
1. I am a creative, artistic, and adventurous gal. I love learning new things and tackling challenges. I like to bake, cook, travel, and do all sorts of art/DIY projects. I enjoy spending time with my family and my boyfriend and having fun with our two dogs.
At Homeward Bound, I am the marketing and special events coordinator. I work with community supporters who hold third party events, promotions, projects, drives, vendor fairs, and fundraising opportunities to benefit the Homeward Bound program and families. I also assist in the marketing of Homeward Bound through social media and informative literature.
2. For the Baby Diaper Drive, I provide guidance and information for sponsors, donors, and potential Baby Diaper Drive participants. I give tours of Homeward Bound for groups and individuals participating in the Baby Diaper Drive. I help promote the Baby Diaper Drive by taking photos, social media outreach, creating marketing materials, sending emails and phone calls. I help count, sort, and store the diapers, wipes, and baby items collected.
3. I have changed about 20 diapers in my life so far, but I know there will be many more to come.
Somlynn Rorie
Diaper Drive Online Marketing
1. During the week, I manage BestBill's marketing department; and later, proudly don the motherhood hat alongside two precious, lovely girls. Though spare time is few and far between, when it does arise, you may find me making gaudy jewelry, head deep in a new DIY project, or curling up with my daughters and husband to read a children's book or two.
2. This is my second year helping the Diaper Drive. When I was asked to help with the Diaper Drive again, I welcomed the opportunity to continue to build the Diaper Drive's online and social media presence and take on the project of revamping the website. What an amazing team to work with – the Diaper Ladies are encouraging, collaborative, and simply wonderful! It has been exciting to see these online efforts come to life and the overflowing community participation.
3. How many diapers have I changed? I've definitely had my share with two little ones and anticipate there will be more diaper changing on the horizon. One of the best lessons I learned: always keep a spare diaper and wipes in the purse at all times.
Mariah Buckley
Communications Coordinator, Homeward Bound
1. I am a high-energy, list-making, child-at-heart kind of girl. A native of Maine, I am learning to enjoy the somewhat “warmer” weather of Arizona. I love the performing arts, traveling, writing, and the Spanish language. I am also a huge bookworm and harbor a secret dream to write a children’s book as lovely as Miss Rumphius, by Barbara Cooney. My family, friends, and boyfriend mean the world to me and if I could buy them all a house on my street, I would.
2. My role in the Baby Diaper Drive is to spread the word through press releases, PSAs, and social media. I enjoy the challenge of reaching people, both new and old, to get involved in this wonderful mission!
3. Let’s see… after working as a nanny for a year, babysitting since the age of 11 and being the oldest of three girls, I would say I have changed well over 1,000 diapers and will probably change thousands more. Luckily, I adore babies and really don’t mind..
