APPLETON —

Q: What kind of difference did donors make in The Post-Crescent's inaugural "Dollars for Diapers" Do It! Community Challenge?

A: Very, very substantial. The Fox Cities Diaper Bank will be stocked with roughly 185,000 disposable diapers, thanks to the uncommon generosity of The P-C's readers and community partners.

"Dollars for Diapers," which began on Mother's Day (May 8) with a $50,000 goal, ends today (Father's Day) with $62,454.12 in financial donations — 24.9 percent over goal.

"The community's response to the diaper drive is another example of the generosity and sense of caring that makes the Fox Cities a special place," said Peter Kelly, CEO of United Way Fox Cities, which founded and operates the Fox Cities Diaper Bank.

"The success of the 'Dollars for Diapers' Do It! campaign will have a tremendous impact on the Fox Cities Diaper Bank's ability to help the low-income families in our community."

The donations — which include $10,000 matching grants from the J. J. Keller Foundation and the Fox Cities Chapter of Credit Unions, as well as 341 smaller individual donations and 17 donations from civic and professional organizations — will purchase more than 175,000 diapers on the open market. Kimberly-Clark Corp., which donated $3,500 to the cause, also will donate 10,000 disposable diapers as part of the company's "Every Little Bottom" national campaign.

The campaign was bolstered in the final two weeks by two $5,000 donations and a separate $3,500 contribution from the Integrity Insurance Charitable Fund within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region.

The participating credit unions not only made a collaborative $10,000 corporate donation, but their branches also collected 220 packages of diapers.

"These types of campaigns are very important to credit unions," said Pat Lowney, president of Lakeview Credit Union. "Our primary mission is to educate our membership on how to better handle their own money and make better financial decisions for themselves. I also believe this carries over to the community as a whole. Those of us that can help have a responsibility to help those that need that help."

Participating credit unions are Community First, Fox Communities, Capital, Lakeview, Prospera, Best Advantage, Evergreen, Labor, Badger Globe, CONE (City of Neenah Employees), Winnebago Community, Menasha Employees, KimCentral and Unison.

"While we often compete with each other, credit unions have been collaborating on many issues, like financial literacy, for years," Lowney said. "Community collaboration makes more things possible and makes the quality of life better for everyone."

The diapers will be housed at Valley Packaging, then distributed to registered clients of St. Joseph Food Program in Menasha and the Salvation Army-Fox Cities.

The Fox Cities Diaper Bank was founded in 2010 after United Way Fox Cities research found that many low-income families struggle to afford disposable diapers, which are required by most child care facilities. Those families often have to choose between diapers and other basic needs, such as food and utilities.

The consequence for infants and toddlers who wear soiled, dirty diapers longer than they should includes the development of diaper rash, which can lead to skin disease or, in some cases, hepatitis.

"When we took on this campaign, we did so because it would make a major difference at the earliest stage in a person's life," said Dan Flannery, The P-C's executive editor. "If we can help a family keep their children healthy, it's an easy call to make.

"We are simply amazed and gratified by the generosity for this first-time effort to help people in need."

Among other reasons for the establishment of the diaper bank for low-income families:

» Food assistance programs, such as WIC or food stamps, do not cover diapers.

» The cost of diapers, up to $100 per month, can be prohibitive for low-income families. An infant uses up to 12 diapers per day, while a toddler uses up to eight per day.

» Fox Cities food pantries can't meet the demand for disposable diapers.

The J. J. Keller Foundation, started in 1991, is one of the Fox Valley's most prolific charitable organizations, and has partnered with The P-C's Do It! campaigns frequently over the years. Mary Harp-Jirschele, the foundation's executive director, said it's gratifying to live and work in an area that places such value on partnership, philanthropy and volunteerism.

"We live in a remarkable community. That sounds trite, but once again, we have clear evidence that it's true," Harp-Jirschele said.

"Every time the call for help is sounded, our friends and neighbors pitch in to not just hit the goal, but to exceed it. This is yet another example of the giving spirit that is alive and well here."