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The California Applicants’ Attorneys Association proudly served as a top supporter of Assemblymember Liz Ortega’s third annual AD-20 Diaper Drive. This year’s drive marked its largest and most impactful year yet for working families across Alameda County. Co-hosted by the Community Child Care Council (4Cs) of Alameda County with community partners, the event ensured each child received two months’ worth of diapers and wipes, along with new books to support early literacy.
With the rising cost of living in Alameda County and across California, diaper insecurity remains a serious and often overlooked issue. One in three families struggles to afford enough diapers to keep their children clean and healthy, and because diapers are not recognized as a basic need under many public assistance programs, families cannot use food assistance benefits to purchase them. Without diapers, parents may be unable to access childcare, preventing them from going to work or school and creating a cascading economic hardship. Organizations like 4Cs of Alameda County play a vital role in addressing these gaps by connecting families to affordable, quality childcare and essential resources.
This year’s drive provided assistance to 1,500 families and 2,100 children, distributing more than 504,000 diapers and 16,800 packs of baby wipes, in addition to thousands of books and other essential resources. The scale of the effort shows both the growing need facing working families and the power of collaboration between labor, community organizations, local businesses, and advocates. Assemblymember Ortega emphasized that while these accomplishments are significant, the ultimate goal remains a future where poverty-driven necessities like diaper drives are no longer needed.
Supporting the AD-20 Diaper Drive aligns closely with CAAA’s commitment to advocating for working families facing systemic and economic challenges. The same cost-of-living pressures that drive diaper insecurity also impact injured workers and their families navigating the workers’ compensation system. CAAA is proud to stand with Assemblymember Ortega and community partners in advancing policies and initiatives that promote dignity, stability, and equity for California’s working families. We thank all of our members, the sponsors, volunteers, and organizers who made this year’s event possible.
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