SPECIAL TO THE NEIGHBOR Destiny Diaper Bank founder the Rev. Rebecca G. Hines, Allison Spenser, Michele Andre and Shelly Osterhout at last year’s event.

Last year, Destiny Diaper Bank benefitted from the generosity of many North Fort Myers residents and business leaders through a fun luncheon with great auction items.

This year, the fund raiser, sponsored by Woman’s Life Chapter 701 and The Bridge North Fort Myers Networking Group will take place on Thursday, March 25.

The luncheon will be held at Bianca’s Ristorante Italiano & Pizzeria in North Fort Myers from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Destiny Diaper Bank is the only agency in Southwest Florida that provides diapers to all of those in need. A non profit 501 C 3, it provides infants, toddlers, disabled teens, special needs children and the elderly with diapers and incontinent supplies, which are often too expensive for individuals or families to purchase on their own.

DDB does not receive any federal funding.

DDB founder, the Rev. Rebecca G. Hines, said the event will be invaluable to help the bank continue its mission.

“Diapers are so expensive. You cannot know how much of a financial burden it can cause a family. I’ve visited homes where many have sold everything they have – even a fence from their backyard – to be able to afford them.”

The family that sold the fence has a five-year-old special needs child, with no federal support for her critically needed diapers.

“Their situation is heartbreaking,” said Hines.

Bridge Networking spokesman Michelle Andre related other stories. “There was a disabled man who actually had to live in his van because he couldn’t afford diapers,” she said. He had been in a car accident, and found that the price of his diapers was the same as his rent.

“One had to go.”

Since then, he gets his diapers from DDP, lives in an apartment and can work.

Hines, a Cape Coral resident, founded the organization.

“I look forward to all events; the need for diapers is tremendous,” Hines said. “We need at least 10,000 diapers a month because we distribute throughout Southwest Florida – to both Lee and Collier counties.”

The bank receives between 40 and 50 calls a day from people who need diapers.

“The situation we are in right now is that we are desperate for sizes three, four and five of infant diapers,” Hines said. “We also want community members to know that we accept diapers left over from when a loved one passes away. People just don’t know what to do with them, and it is a hard time. But if they can, we ask that they please donate them to us.”

The Bridge Networking Group meets monthly in North Fort Myers at Bianca’s. This monthly meeting is both a networking opportunity and a fund raiser.

There will be a Chinese Auction where you place tickets bought for only $1 in front of an item you want. Great prizes have again been donated this year.

The cost is $20 per person for lunch, with the Chinese Raffle and Silent Auction. Donations will be matched up to $500 by Woman’s Life. Raffle and auction items, diapers, and monetary donations are currently being accepted.

If you miss the event and want to donate, there are several drop-off points in North Fort Myers including Brightway Insurance, Body Works Gym on Hancock Bridge Parkway, Graphic Sign Solutions, Quality Self Storage, the VIP Center and Bianca’s.

Cape Coral drop off sites include the bank itself, and more are on the Web site destinydiaperbank.com.

The bank is located at 1510 SE 46th. Lane, Cape Coral. For information call 549-2130 or e-mail destinydiaperlady@yahoo.com.

For more information on the event, contact Event Chair Michele Andre at Michele@TheBridgeNetworking.com or 225-5019. That group is accepting new networking-minded members.

Bianca’s Italian Restaurant is located at 16251 N. Cleveland Ave.

Organizers ask for an RSVP by March 24 to 225-5019, but said walk-ins are welcome.