St. John’s ICARE Foundation Hosts Care & Comfort Diaper & Menstrual Supplies Giveaway

Far Rockaway, New York, June 27, 2024 — Women and families on the Rockaway Peninsula received much-needed diapers, period products, and more at no-cost when the St. John’s ICARE Foundation held its Care & Comfort Diaper & Menstrual Supplies Giveaway at the Episcopal Health Services (EHS) Clinical Learning Center on June 18.

The St. John’s ICARE Foundation joined forces with the Allied Foundation and The Episcopal Church of St. Albans the Martyr to provide more than 100 diaper bags and 400 packages of menstrual products to families in need.

“We are so grateful to the Allied Foundation and The Episcopal Church of St. Albans the Martyr for partnering with us to supply these basic essential needs to our community,” said Nancy Leghart, Executive Director of the St. John’s ICARE Foundation. “Partnerships like these help the ICARE Foundation provide the families in our communities with the support and resources they need to thrive.”

Heather Edwards, Executive Director of the Allied Foundation, said the organization is proud to partner with the ICARE Foundation to end diaper need and period poverty in the community of Far Rockaway.

“Through the Care and Comfort Giveaway, we aim to provide babies and their families with diapers and wipes to keep them clean, dry and healthy and period supplies needed to manage menstrual health safely, effectively and with dignity. By coming together, we can improve the health and well-being of those in the community we serve,” said Edwards.

Donna Jones, lay Eucharistic minister at The Episcopal Church of St. Albans the Martyr said the congregation, led by Father Keith Voets, is committed to supporting the ICARE Foundation.

“It has been an ongoing joy to serve with the ICARE Foundation over the past years, as we carry out Christ’s work in the Diocese of Long Island specifically benefiting our brothers and sisters on the Far Rockaway Peninsula,” said Jones. “Our parishioners have been incredible with donations of children’s books, mother/baby items, helping to address period poverty in 2023 and 2024 with our menstrual hygiene campaign, and of course with our annual participation with Adopt-A-Family for many years. We are led by the Holy Spirit to help.”

Team members from Episcopal Health Services and the St. John’s Medical Group were also in attendance at the Care & Comfort Diaper & Menstrual Supplies Giveaway event, booking pediatric appointments, providing blood pressure screenings, sharing information about maternal health and disseminating health-related materials.