From a Small Grant to a Growing Diaper Bank: Ruth Kremer’s Impactful Journey
From a Small Grant to a Growing Diaper Bank: Ruth Kremer’s Impactful Journey
Donna Barton Ayres, President of Jewish Women’s Endowment Fund, highlights a local story of impact in southwest Michigan.
This is a story about how a small start produced a big outcome from a small grant given to an innovative changemaker with a big heart. Ruth Kremer, a member of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley and President of Temple B’nai Shalom in Benton Harbor, Michigan –grounded in the Jewish values of Tzedakah (charity) and Chesed (kindness) – turned an $1100 grant into a rapidly growing diaper bank. A compelling vision, Ruth’s initiative to coalesce people around it, legwork, and the collaboration of caring partners with funds made Ruth’s vision a reality.
Ruth received the grant from the Jewish Women’s Endowment Fund (JWEF), a progressive philanthropic grant program dedicated to improving women’s and children’s lives in expression of the Jewish value Tikkun Olam (repair the world). JWEF was founded in 2001 by a group of Jewish women in South Bend, Indiana, who wanted to make a difference through small annual grants of up to $2500. JWEF uses the interest on a member’s investment to fund their grants.
Ruth learned from a national survey by the National Baby Diaper Bank that at least 42% of young families could not afford diapers. They are in a Catch 22: low-income parents need daycare to work or attend school, but daycare requires a minimum of a day’s supply of disposable diapers. In Michigan, 49% of babies are born on Medicaid. Recipients of state or federal funds are prohibited from using them to buy disposable diapers. Laundromats are regulated; they do not allow cloth diapers. In a pre-pandemic survey, the National Baby Diaper Bank reported that 57% of parents miss, on average, four days of work per month due to diaper insufficiency. Diapers are a basic need.
Ruth joined with three friends to form diaper drives through the interfaith United Through Motherhood (UTM). UTM partners with Saron Lutheran Church, Peace Lutheran Church, First Congregational Church, the Women’s Service League, the YMCA, United Federal Credit Unions in St. Joseph and Niles, Michigan, and six enterprises in Benton Harbor. JWEF awarded United Through Motherhood a grant of $1100 to tackle diaper insufficiency.
Cats & Dogs for Diapers
The $1100 multiplied through a beautiful chain reaction into over $64,000 in grants. With grants from the Pokagon Fund, the Berrien Community Foundation, Priority Health, and individual donors, UTM served 3,021 babies in 2023. Ruth determined that Berrien County could be sustained on $30,000 a year. Ruth’s press conference for the JWEF grant allowed it to expand from one partner – the Berrien County Health Department – to three more. Today, these partners supply pull-ups, baby wipes, diaper cream, baby formula, groceries, gas money, transportation to medical appointments, prescriptions, and neonatal and newborn care classes. Jim Marohn, owner of Double Day Office Products, now transports truckloads of diapers bought at the Mishawaka Costco to Benton Harbor, where they are stored at Temple B’nai Shalom. More grants have come through, most recently from the Frederick C. Upton Foundation, making it possible to expand to ten partners to enable UTM to serve families in Benton Harbor, Eau Claire, Bangor, Berrien Springs, Coloma, Hartford, Niles, Union Pier, and Benton Heights. Ruth’s vision to “ensure babies have dry diapers as often as they need them” has been realized.
You, too, can be a “force multiplier” to benefit women and children here and abroad by joining the Women’s Endowment Fund with a contribution of $5000 (payable $500/year interest-free over ten years if needed). If you are interested, contact the Jewish Federation at (574) 233-1164, and you will be directed to me or our Grants Committee Chair, Judy Wein. Thank you for considering us.
Donna Barton Ayres
President
Jewish Women’s Endowment Fund
Speaking of dogs, save the date for the first ever Paw Parade at the Jewish Federation on Sunday, April 28. Bring your dog from 2-4 PM for a hike in the woods, run in the field and treats in the pavillion. Join us if you are a dog lover!