Story Published:
Mar 26, 2009 at 3:46 PM PST
Story Updated:
Mar 26, 2009 at 5:46 PM PST
KING COUNTY, Wash. -- In these tight times, donations are drying up for a nonprofit group that provides diapers, baby formula, cribs, and car seats to 160 agencies in the county.
Eastside Baby Corner says the decline started before December and now it can't fulfill all its orders.
"We have no bathtubs, we have no strollers, we have no high chair," said founder Karen Ridlon. "We're out of bassinets and bikes."
Social worker Lisa Ingraham lined up for bags of baby basics. She works with high school dropouts who have children of their own.
"They're trying to get their education, they're trying to get jobs, and there's not a lot of opportunity out their for jobs. They really depend on this program to get things like strollers, bassinets, clothing, and diapers," she said.
Eastside Baby Corner fulfills 700 orders a week. Demand is up, donations are down, and today it had to tell several agencies, "Sorry."
The Issaquah warehouse that once was stacked to the ceiling with bouncy chairs and baby formula is desperate for donations. Baby Corner passes out nearly 40 car seats each week. The group buys them new, which alone cost $1,800.
For a list of the 10 most-needed donation items and drop-off hours, visit its
Web site.