Good Morning, Canton! ~ Marybeth Levine and Eva Davis
Canton Public Library's 'Stuff the Truck' drive draws more than 30,000 donations for Detroit Area Diaper Bank.
You'd think Mother Nature would have been less daunting to the volunteers on duty at Canton Public Library during the annual two-day Stuff the Truck drive for Detroit Area Diaper Bank and the donors who streamed by. But instead of Tuesday's balmy weather, they were greeted with the sting of winter's leading edge.
No matter. The warmth of the giving season prevailed, as Marybeth Levine, the diaper bank's founder, and library director Eva Davis attest in their greeting this morning.
To the very last moments of the drive, at 9 p.m. Thursday, people were still delivering all kinds -- from newborn-size to adult -- of disposable diapers, totalling more than 30,000. Some also donated wipes and gas money, Levine said.
Because state aid doesn't cover buying paper products, low-income families often try to stretch every available dollar waiting as long as possible between changes, Levine said. In the case of adults, especially the elderly, she added, it may mean not leaving the house for lack of supplies. For those of all ages using diapers, diaper-change can also lead to rashes and debilitating infections.
It's a message more people are hearing. This year's drive exceeded last year's by 4,000 donations.
In addition to thanking all the donors, including Canton-based caterer Fat Chef in a Little Coat for donating the truck used to collect diapers during the two-day drive, Levine and Davis promise to do it all again next year.
If you'd like to record a Good Morning, Canton! segment, email Canton Patch editor Peg McNichol at peg.mcnichol@patch.com.