Diaper drive begins this weekend

Beginning this weekend, local United Way and AmeriCorps members will hold a communitywide diaper drive.

Lori Johns, director of volunteer engagement for Lawrence’s United Way, said the organizations ran a similar drive last year, but this year’s effort has been expanded to include collecting adult diapers.

“They (diapers) are expensive and you go through a lot of them,” Johns said. “So what we’re trying to do is make sure people don’t have to choose between having their baby have a clean diaper versus having food on the table.”

The drive also coincides with National AmeriCorps Week, Johns said, which is meant to celebrate and recognize work done by AmeriCorps members across the country.

Collected diapers will be allocated to the Willow Domestic Violence Center, the Lawrence Community Shelter, Health Care Access and the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department.

Donations will be accepted between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday at Hy-Vee, 4020 W. Sixth St., and March 12 and 13 at Wal-Mart, 550 Congressional Drive, between 3 and 7 p.m.