Helping new moms cover basic needs
Some 17,000 diapers - give or take a diaper or two - are ready to be distributed to El Dorado County families in need.
Book of Dreams readers donated the diapers to Family Connections, an El Dorado-based nonprofit dedicated to helping new mothers meet the needs of their infants.
The agency works with mothers during the first year of the babies' lives, helping them to get linked to medical and other services.
For example, if a new mother needs to get her driver's license, workers will help her study for the test. If she needs to learn how to navigate the public transportation system, workers will assist her.
And if the families need funds or some specific items, workers with Family Connections help to arrange to obtain them through other public assistance programs. Diapers are always in demand, employees say.
"You can't imagine what it means to a family to have this most basic need covered," said Deb Jensen, assistant director of Family Connections, about the diapers. "It relieves a level of strain for the families and helps them to focus on other child development and family strengthening types of pursuits."