Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, several community leaders gathered to collect and donate 200K diapers to families across Los Angeles during a time of great need.
Friday, March 26, 2020, L.A. City Council President Emeritus Herb Wesson, Jr. teamed up with the Good+Foundation to distribute a massive amount of diapers to families experiencing hardship due to COVID-19 shutdowns. Councilmember Wesson was joined by Council President Nury Martinez, Councilmember Curren Price and Good+Foundation Director of National Programs, Dr. Alan-Michael Graves to announce and distribute the diapers and wipes.
With supplies flying off the shelves at stores, The Good+Foundation reached out to Councilmember Wesson to partner on the project. “We’re extremely proud to be partnering with the entire City Council, but specifically District 10,” Dr. Graves stated. “I’m happy and it’s taken two days, but we’ve come up with a system that’s not only safe but also a strong way to make sure that these families get the things that they need.”
“The partnership that we’ve created today with the City Council; we hope that it will continue and spread across the county,” Dr. Graves added.
“There are moments like this, the biggest public health-crisis that we’ve ever gone through. Moments like this that bring out the worst in people, but it also brings out the best in people,” Councilmember Wesson stated. “During times like this, you want to do everything and anything that you can to help people. If we can help a young mother stay away from the store by delivering diapers to them to get through the next few days, we want to do that.”
The four practiced social distance, standing six feet away from each other during the very small press gathering. Together, they greeted trucks and vans to fill with supplies to go out into Los Angeles homes. Councilmember Wesson continued, “I’m so proud to stand here today, with individuals that will do whatever they can to try to make life easier for the people that we represent.”
“The most important thing that we want to show here is that we want to inspire other people to give. If you’re a business owner, and you’ve got hand sanitizers, give it to us,” Councilmember Wesson said as they intend to continue their philanthropic efforts. “Whenever [Dr. Graves] gets materials, we’re going to give him the infrastructure to distribute it.”
Councilmember also asked the City Council President Nury Martinez, to speak on behalf of Los Angeles, “There is no doubt about it, we will come together and get through this crisis, but when this crisis is over, the people who that will take the hardest blow are going to be the working poor. The family that can barely afford their rent. The families that can barely afford groceries once a week. The family that can barely afford diapers for their children are going to be the folks who are going to suffer the most, She said”
“This is exactly how we become better people during a crisis. This too shall pass, but we have to remember we have to step up collectively as a community and as a city to ensure that children and families are being taken care of.”
Councilman Price also added thanks and gratitude to Dr. Graves and the entire operation. “The thing that my colleagues and I have in common is that we all represent the areas where there are pockets of poor, pockets of poverty and pockets of need. So, to be able to coordinate and collaborate with nonprofit organizations in our communities to get these products out is really going to be a blessing.”
Closing out the announcement, he continued, “We have an opportunity to show how strong we are. How resilient we are and how we can come together. And that’s what we’re doing today.”
