Caleb’s Cause
Surprised by the lack of opportunities for children to give back, Marcie Hines knew it was her family’s calling to make a difference. “My son Caleb was five, and I literally remember it like it was yesterday,” Marcie smiled. “I walked outside and prayed, ‘Okay, what am I gonna do? Can we do this?’ God gave me all the answers within five minutes.” In that moment, she knew the foundation would be Caleb’s namesake.
Caleb’s Cause Foundation has served over 40,000 children and gathered over 1 million diapers for families in need across Oklahoma. “That’s what’s important for me. We provide something so small, yet, it has such a large impact,” Marcie said, “That’s my joy in it.” Day in and day out, Marcie and Caleb work for the foundation, performing site visits to their sponsored organizations and accessing needs.
Statewide Necessity
Diapers. They seem like such a small item, but to a parent, they are expensive necessities.
According to the Foundation’s annual report:
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1 in every 4 kids in Oklahoma lives in poverty
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Lack of diapers is one of the leading causes of child abuse
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0 state programs in Oklahoma assisting with the purchase of diapers
According to the National Diaper Bank Network’s 2019 findings:
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157,083 Oklahoman children are under age three
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1 in 3 families nationwide struggle to provide clean diapers for their baby
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57% of parents in the US missed an average of four days of school/work in the past month because they couldn’t leave their children at child care due to lack of diapers
Foundation Outreach
Caleb’s Cause Foundation encourages children of all ages to get involved: host a diaper drive, donate diapers or dollars, and advocate for families in need of fresh, clean diapers. Diaper drives can be held anywhere, such as birthday parties, 5Ks, and school gatherings. Free diaper drive kits and resources are available for download on the Foundation’s website and include everything you need to host your own.
In addition to raising funds and hosting drives, Caleb’s Cause Foundation now offers financial grants to local nonprofits and statewide organizations working to solve the diaper crisis in our state. This year alone, the Foundation has distributed 13 grants in various amounts ranging from $500 to $5,000. Online applications are accepted throughout the year and reviewed for approval in August.
Visit the Caleb’s Cause Foundation website for more information at www.calebscausefoundation.org or email info@calebscausefoundation.org.