Caregiver Initiative delivers diapers and wipes to Auburn's campus

The Caregiver Initiative facilitated the distribution of diapers and wipes to Auburn University main campus on Feb. 13 and 16 with the help of student, faculty and staff volunteers to the Campus Food Pantry via Auburn Cares and the Caregiver Closet in Career Discovery & Success. All materials were received from Bundles of Hope Diaper Bank in Birmingham, Alabama.

The Caregiver Initiative, headed by alumnae Regan Moss, and three AU employees Jaime Miller, Alicia Mohundro and Amy Serafini, first orchestrated this collaborative effort in spring 2023 with Sarah Grace Kaschak, formerly of Auburn Cares. Kaschak now serves in the Hunger Solutions Institute in the College of Human Sciences at Auburn. In addition to Kaschak and members of the Caregiver Initiative, key champions of this work include Assistant Clinical ProfessorRachael Sweeney and Jennifer Edwards of the Dean’s office in the College of Nursing.

The work of the Caregiver Initiative at Auburn University is a testament to the collective commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all students. As these collaboration continue, future efforts will include ongoing advocacy, innovative programming and research initiatives aimed at enhancing the overall success of student-caregivers in higher education.

The Caregiver Initiative focuses on supporting student-caregivers and has yielded tangible results, including the work with Bundles of Hope Diaper Bank providing supplementary diapers and wipes to nearly 30 enrolled student-caregivers currently. Expanding to two sites and forthcoming advertising can help better address present needs among students at Auburn.

Students, staff and faculty volunteers actively participated in unloading delivery vehicles and hand-delivering diapers to both the Campus Food Pantry and Caregiver Closet sites. Student volunteers included student employees in the Office of Inclusion and Diversity, Career Discovery & Success, Academic Support and club leaders from Period. The Movement and Delta Tau Delta.

Miller, director of Student Academic Support, said, “The two unloading events at the Auburn Cares Campus Food Pantry and the Career Closet in Career Discovery & Success showcased the dedication of the Auburn University community in addressing the critical issue of diaper insecurity among students. These efforts not only provide immediate relief to the Auburn Family, but also contribute to a broader mission of advocating for and programming with students to support their success in college.”

In addition to broader efforts to promote student-caregiver success, the Caregiver Initiative recently secured funding through the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Bright Idea Seed Grant to examine post-graduation outcomes. The QEP supports the group in further demonstrating their commitment to enhancing the student-caregiver experience at Auburn. One planned effort in the fall is to host roundtables among advisors, staff, faculty and students to identify opportunities for programming and support at Auburn.

Volunteers are needed year-round to assist with the day-of logistics of the diaper distribution effort and to participate in the forthcoming roundtable discussions. Those willing to learn more or get involved should contact the Caregiver Initiative by emailing Jaime Miller at jmiller@auburn.edu.