Member Spotlight: Do The Right Thing

If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. Cheryl Hurst is one of those busy people. If she sees a need, she fills it. In 2014, while volunteering at DAWN for Federal Way Rotary, Cheryl saw many moms, babies and toddlers come through the door. Yet DAWN’s supply of diapers was minimal, adding further stress to families in crisis.
 
Cheryl said, “I can fix this!”
 
That’s how the first March of Diapers diaper drive got started in King and Pierce Counties. The first year, with the help of the 751 Machinists Union collected 15,300 Diapers and nearly 3,000 wipes for four nonprofits, DAWN, Multi-Service Center and Mary’s Place, Two Hearts Pregnancy Aid,
 
As the diaper drive grew, in 2018, Cheryl founded Do The Right Thing as a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Though the organization is all volunteer run, it has continued to grow. Last year, 80 businesses in 15 cities collected 412,019 diapers and 137,125 wipes. Businesses and organizations in the following cities participated:

• Auburn
• Black Diamond
• Burien
• Covington
• Edgewood
• Federal Way
• Gig Harbor
• Kent
• Maple Valley
• Milton
• Renton
• Seattle
• Sumner
• Tacoma
• Tukwila

 
The goal for 2024 is 500,000 diapers! Businesses sign up online in January and early February each year to be a collector location for the March of Diapers diaper drive. They collect diapers (for infants, toddlers and seniors) and wipes throughout the month of March. During the first week of April, Cheryl and her husband John go to each of the collector sites to pick up the diapers and take them to their storage facility where they are counted and sorted by countless volunteers.
 
The diapers and wipes are then distributed through various nonprofits like the Maple Valley Food Bank, Brooklake Church, Children’s Home Society, Communities in Schools Federal Way/Highline, Foster Champs, Pediatric Interim Care Center, Mother Africa, DAWN, Foster Champs, Carenet of Puget Sound, We Love Kent (who helps multiple organizations), Nourish Food Bank, Auburn Food Bank, Federal Way Senior Center, Fusion (helping Families with Children into homes), Parent Child Assistance Program & Prepares.
 
Why is Cheryl so passionate about this cause?
 
“Babies didn’t ask to be born to people who can’t afford diapers,” Cheryl said.
 
She said the need is great for infants, toddlers and older adults, and resources are limited. Kids need 8 to 10 diapers a day to take to daycare before a daycare will accept them, so not having diapers is a dealbreaker. Having diapers can help families get back to work.
 
The most needed sizes are 4, 5, 6, 7 and pull-ups for kids and any for seniors. The diaper drive will accept opened packages and loose diapers. Baby and hygiene wipes are also needed.
 
In addition to the diaper drive, Do The Right Thing is hosting its first gala on Sat., March 9 at the Federal Way Community Center. The goal of the gala is to provide funding for the organization, so they can pay a Diaper Bank Director in the next year, cover costs that Cheryl and her husband are currently paying out of pocket, etc.
 
Here are some ways you can help Do The Right Thing:

• Sign up online to collect diapers and wipes during the month of March.
• Sponsor the diaper drive to help cover costs.
• Volunteer to drop off materials to collectors in mid to late February.
• Volunteer to help pick up diapers and wipes the first week of April.
• Volunteer to count and sort diapers. (Diapers are counted twice: once at each business and again at the sorting facility.)
• Donate auction items for the Do The Right Thing gala (e.g., vacation/rental homes for a week or a weekend; interesting and unusual items and experiences; fishing trips; wine tastings; etc.
• Make a donation to support Do The Right Thing and their work.
• Sponsor the gala.

 
In addition, the Covington Chamber will host a diaper drive at our March 14, 2024 networking luncheon. We’ll accept diapers and wipes for kids and seniors. You can also make a donation directly to Do The Right Thing.
 
A big thank you to Cheryl, the Do The Right Thing board, volunteers and participating businesses and donors! It takes a village to raise a child. It also takes a village to keep a child or older adult in diapers. 

---