New east Idaho nonprofit launches diaper drive to help families in need

IDAHO FALLS — A new nonprofit that helps provide donated items from community members to babies and toddlers in need is holding a diaper drive event this month.

Cheyenne and Austin Wade founded Changes Idaho in late July. The nonprofit serves parts of Shelley, Idaho Falls, Ammon and Rigby. As of Monday, the nonprofit has served 165 kids.

“We noticed a need in our community of people that they don’t always necessarily have transportation to get the items they need,” Cheyenne explained. “So we decided to bridge that gap and be able to provide the items to them.”

They do porch pickup for donations and porch drop-off for the items that are going to the families in need. Deliveries are done twice a week. They accept a variety of items, including boys and girls clothing in sizes premie up to 6T, shoes and toys.

“We also encourage exchanges, so when a family requests items, we encourage them if they have anything that they’ve outgrown or toys they don’t play with anymore or leftover diapers, to exchange those for the items,” Cheyenne stated. “(That way), we can create a community and keep the circle of giving going. It’s been very successful.”

The biggest need they are seeing right now is for diapers, so they are hosting a community diaper drive from October 24 to October 31.

“Once families use (diapers) they are gone, so they have been a little harder to get,” Cheyenne said. “We wanted to be able to support more families by doing the diaper drive.”

Any brand of diapers are welcome to be donated. If a family has an opened pack of diapers they no longer use, those can be donated too.

“Anything helps, even just a couple extra diapers makes a really big difference,” Cheyenne said.

Drop-off sites include:

• WeeBee Toys – 545 Yellowstone Avenue, Idaho Falls
• The Pediatric Center – 3430 Washington Parkway, Idaho Falls
• Project LeanNation – 2565 E 17th St #3, Ammon
• Dancing Bears Childcare – 866 Milligan Road, Idaho Falls
• Albertsons – 1705 W. Broadway Street, Idaho Falls
• Cafe et Amour – 186 E Main Street, Rigby (They always have a box out to donate, not just for the diaper drive)
• Ririe Give & Gather – 339 Main Street, Ririe (Also a permanent drop spot)

You can also make monetary donations. For more information about donating, exchanging or requesting items, visit ChangesIdaho.org.