'Rebuild, uplift and empower': Local nonprofits team up to help new parents

By Izzy Fonfara Drewel

OMAHA, Neb. (KETV) — The North Omaha Community Partnership has teamed up with Nebraska for Us to host a diaper drive for working-class Nebraskans.

"We know that diapers are crazy expensive along with everything else," Angie Lauritsen, state director of Nebraska for Us, said.

Organizers say families in need sometimes have things like outstanding car loans and credit card debt that keep them from buying essentials -- like diapers. Just last month, a judge blocked the Biden administration's efforts to lower credit card late fees which would have helped some of those families.

"Those that typically use credit cards are the lower income type individuals, and those are predatory fees," Lauritsen said.

On top of credit card feeds, representatives are pushing the Farm Bill which would limit SNAP benefits.

"Over a 10-year period that would see a $30 billion less within SNAP benefits," Lauritsen said.

SNAP doesn't cover diapers but helps pay for other items to offset the cost. Nebraska Diaper Bank reports that one-third of Nebraska families struggle to afford diapers — and that's where Tamika Mease and her team step in.

"When we provide essential items like these, it offsets the costs for the families and that way they are able to apply those funds towards something else that they have no control over or no assistance with," Mease, founder of North Omaha Community Partnership, said.

The drive received over 4000 wipes and 2000 diapers along with financial donations.

"Based on the individual family for one baby, that's saving them well over $150 a month on diapers and wipes," Mease said.

These items will help 100 families over the next several months.

"The basis of our program is to rebuild, uplift and empower our community, and part of that is to assist with the essential needs, which is diapers," Mease said.