Sen. Roxanne Persaud addresses the press convention.
Picture courtesy Workplace of Sen. Roxanne Persaud
Sen. Roxanne J. Persaud, chair of the New York State Senate Social Companies Committee, and Meeting Member Michaelle C. Solages, chair of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Caucus, joined members of the Nationwide Diaper Financial institution Community on Tuesday in calling for $2 million to be included within the State Fiscal Yr 2025-2026 Funds for New York State diaper banks.
Persaud, the Guyanese-born consultant for the 19th Senate District in Brooklyn, mentioned Diaper banks serve communities by supplying important toddler well being merchandise for free of charge to New York households in want.
Tuesday’s press convention happened as New York State members of the Nationwide Diaper Financial institution Community convened in Albany for his or her annual Capitol Advocacy Day, the place they met with legislators representing communities throughout the state.
New York diaper banks embody: The Queens Diaper Financial institution at Public Well being Options (Queens); Mothers for Mothers, NYC (Brooklyn); Little Necessities (Brooklyn); Anticipating Aid (Brooklyn); The HopeLine (Bronx); Her Village, Inc. (Bronx); NYC Mammas Give Again Inc. (Manhattan); GOOD+ Basis (Manhattan); The Allied Basis (Nassau County); Child Steps Child Pantry (Newburgh); Twin Tier Child Financial institution (Painted Put up); The Meals Pantries (Albany); Central New York Diaper Financial institution, Inc. (Syracuse); Junior League of Rochester Diaper Financial institution (Rochester); Each Backside Lined (Buffalo); (914) Cares (Armonk) and the Junior League of Central Westchester (Scarsdale).
“Diaper banks are important lifelines for households in want, but the battle to make sure that they keep funded is much from over,” Persaud mentioned. “We should proceed to push for the assets vital to supply each youngster with a clear diaper every single day.”
“No youngster ought to have to sit down in a grimy diaper — and it’s our duty to verify each household has the help they want,” she added. “I stay deeply dedicated to advocating for diaper financial institution funding as a result of these applications form the way forward for numerous kids, serving to them develop up in a state that really cares for his or her well-being.”
“As the price of dwelling rises and the worth of diapers continues to extend, we should take motion to assist households throughout New York,” mentioned Meeting Member Solages, the Haitian-American consultant for District 22 in Nassau County, Lengthy Is. “The prohibitive value of diapers instantly threatens the wellbeing of younger kids.
“Dirty diapers may cause rashes and infections, and if clear diapers are usually not extensively accessible, households can be confronted with troublesome selections concerning the well being of their kids,” he added. “Because of this, Senator Persaud and I are advocating for the inclusion of $2 million within the FY25-26 state funds to bolster the capability of 17 native and regional diaper banks throughout New York State.”
“Analysis reveals that 1 in 2 US households with younger kids battle to afford diapers, and the Nationwide Diaper Financial institution Community (NDBN) and our member fundamental wants banks in New York are dedicated to ending diaper want, a rising public well being situation,” mentioned Lacey Gero, director of presidency relations, NDBN. “We commend Sen. Persaud, Assemblymember Solages and Assemblymember Sayegh for his or her unwavering dedication to supporting kids, households, and diaper banks throughout New York state.
“Investing in community-based diaper distribution applications improves the lives of kids, households, and communities,” she added. “Because the variety of working households struggling to afford materials fundamental wants continues to rise, it’s crucial that this important state funding be expanded in order that New York’s diaper banks can present the important assist households require to thrive.”
“Diaper want is a community-wide problem that transcends politics and impacts the well-being of households throughout Western New York,” mentioned Raziya Hill, founder and govt director of Each Backside Lined, Inc. “Whereas the insights from the Nationwide Diaper Financial institution Community are usually not new, they’re regularly validated by way of ongoing analysis, reminding us of the persistent hurdles households face.
“This data drives us to develop revolutionary, sustainable options to help households and construct more healthy, extra equitable communities,” Hill added. “Crucially, authorities funding permits diaper banks to supply an important service — making certain households can meet their infants’ fundamental wants, which in flip strengthens our complete group.”
“There’s a Maternal Well being disaster in the USA,” mentioned Vanessa Bracetty-Ormsby, founder and govt director of Anticipating Aid. “As a NYS diaper financial institution, collectively our line of labor is to enhance public well being. By offering diapers we’re decreasing monetary instability and limiting alternatives for upward flexibility.
“Diaper want impacts not solely the well-being of infants and toddlers but in addition the monetary and emotional well being of their households,” she added. “Addressing this situation is important to breaking cycles of poverty and bettering well being outcomes for kids. With steady state funding help we’re capable of enhance youngster and household well being, help financial stability, and handle a important hole within the social security web.”
“Because of help from the New York State legislature, and the management of Sen. Persaud and Assemblywoman Solages, the Queens Diaper Financial institution has distributed greater than 1 million diapers to over 12,000 kids in Queens.” Camille Tinder, director, Maternal Youngster Well being Companies with Queens Diaper Financial institution and Public Well being Options.
“Whereas these numbers are spectacular, we have now solely been capable of present diapers to three per cent of infants from low-income Queens households,” she added. “With continued help from the State of New York, we can develop our attain and help households to thrive. Investing in diapers not solely reduces well being care prices for households and for the state; it’s an funding within the well being and well-being of New York’s kids and households.”
