DUNMORE, Pa. — Keeping kids warm this winter – that's the goal of a donation drive in Lackawanna County.
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Saint Joseph’s Center is hosting a winter clothing collection next week for the Baby and Children’s Pantry in Dunmore.
The pantry provides support and supplies to moms and families in need in the area.
It serves more than 200 families each month.
Shannon Spano estimates she spends roughly $200 a month on diapers and wipes alone for her three babies. She also has a 9-year-old child.
"Clothing, whew, you have to buy kids a lot. I spend probably $75 to $100 on each kid a month."
So when she can save some of that money by making a trip to St. Joseph's Center Baby and Children's Pantry, she's grateful.
Everything inside the space on South Blakely Street in Dunmore, from winter coats to baby formula, was donated by people in the community.
"When somebody could do a small, generous donation like that, it's helping a lot of babies," Spano said.
But the bins and shelves aren't as full as the staff here would like them to be. They say this time of year is difficult. donations drop off after the holidays.
"January and February are the coldest months of the year and what we see is families struggling to pay their heat, their food, their rent, and clothing probably comes down the bottom of the list," said Tamara Hall, director of maternity services.
That's why the pantry is hosting a winter clothing drive on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
If you have the day off from work, staff members hope you'll spend part of the day helping your neighbors in need.
"If you don't want to go shopping, we'll take your clean, gently used clothing, children's sizes zero to size 10 to 12," said Mary Griffin, outreach coordinator for the pantry. "If you don't have clothing, you want to do something else, we're always low on diapers, the bigger sizes four, fives, and sixes."
They're also looking for diaper bags, baby bottles, bath towels, and baby lotion.
"We have a community that wants to share what they have. Many families, as their children outgrow, they don't want to just throw those things out. They want to give them to other families. So we're really fortunate to be at the middle of that," said Sister Maryalis Jacquinot, president and CEO of St. Joseph's Center,
Sister Maryalice says it's not uncommon to see parents leave the pantry with tears in their eyes.
Volunteers like Beth Moylan say that's what it's all about.
"It's really heartwarming. It really is. It's great to know that we have a resource where people just don't have to struggle with how their children are going to be dressed, and to have warm clothes, to have comfortable clothes, to have current clothes is a great thing for parents."
Event Details:
- What: Winter clothing drive at St. Joseph's Center's Baby and Children’s Pantry
- When: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 16, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Where: St. Joseph's Center's Baby and Children’s Pantry located at 320 South Blakely Street, Dunmore.
- Contact: For more information, call the pantry at 570-207-6640 or click here.
St. Joseph's Center Baby Pantry Wish List:
- Diapers needed in sizes: NB, 1, 4, 5, 6, 4T-5T, and Pull-ups
- New Baby Bottles
- Baby Wash
- Baby Lotion
- Baby Bath Towels & Washcloths
- New Born/0-3 Sleepers
- Diaper Bags
- Winter Clothing in sizes 3T -10/12 (New or Clean, Gently Used)
- Click here for their Amazon wishlist.
WNEP's Go Joe bike ride benefits St. Joseph's Center. Watch the kick-off of the 25th anniversary below.