Allan Appel Photo
Two months after depositing 4,800 signatures at 200 Orange St. to put her name on the Democratic Primary ballot, the Harp campaign Tuesday deposited a nearly equal number of diapers at the New Haven Diaper Bank.
The donation took place at a press event at 370 State St., in North Haven where the not-for-profit organization, founded in New Haven, has expanded regionally as the sole distributor of the essential hygienic item to low-income moms in New Haven, Hartford, Bridgeport, and Middlesex County.
The event was held in the distribution facility amid tall totems of Pampers, Luvs, Cruisers, and Cottontails.
There Democratic mayoral candidate Toni Harp highlighted her leadership in addressing what she termed an important “public health issue”: keeping households stocked with dipaers.
“Behind food and housing, it’s the number one stresser for women, and it’s most common for single-headed households. In New Haven, in poor neighborhoods, that’s up to 60 percent,” Harp said.
Diaper Bank Executive Director Janet Alfano cited Harp’s work as a state senator in securing $150,000 a year for two years between 2007 and 2009 to make the expansion possible.
Diaper Bank founder Joanne Goldblum hailed Harp for her “unbelievable, never-ending commitment to children and families,”
Then-Gov. Jodi Rell subsequently erased the budget line item for the Diaper Bank; Harp said she and her colleagues on the legislature’s Appropriations Committee are committed to restoring it.
“It was the first time any state ever had diapers as a line item, said Harp.
While no other state has replicated Connecticut’s solo achievement, Harp said, U.S. Rep Rosa DeLauro and her allies support the concept on the federal level. “It’s just a matter of time before this initiative is available to all states,” Harp added.
Alfano credited Harp also with helping to secure federal “stimulus” money, resulting in two million diapers being delivered during the recession.
The diaper assistance is aimed at the three in ten poor mothers who would regularly run out. Harp described young moms who wash and reuse to stretch the supply, and would even in some instances steal diapers if they have to, were it not for the Diaper Bank.
The bank operates like the Connecticut Food Bank, as the prime distribution central for shelters, day care centers, and schools.
Running out of diapers can lead to low self-esteem and potential depression among the moms. That can filter down to the kids, often in the form of the child staying home.
“A lack of diapers is [potentially] the straw that breaks the camel’s back in the community,” Harp said.
Harp was asked how the Diaper Bank’s signature thumbnail description — “Change from the bottom up” — relates to her current mayoral campaign. Harp’s answer: “We’re talking about everyone in New Haven. Not only the elites, but a coming together.”
Alfano saod the Harp campaign’s gift of 4,500 diapers was particularly generous, “nurturing and comfortable.”
She would happily accept a contribution of diapers from the campaign of independent mayoral candidate Justin Elicker, as well, Alfano said. “Absolutely.”
Harp campaign manager Jason Bartlett said the campaign has been collecting the 4500 diapers for about two weeks.
After the diaper event and a fundraiser to follow, Harp said she was devoting the remainder of the day to prepare for the final public debate of the campaign Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Gateway Community College.