RASM Community Comes Together to Support Local Families Through Diaper & Wipe Drive

Throughout the month of June, RASM's Community Outreach Committee hosted a Diaper & Wipe Drive benefiting Mothers Helping Mothers, a local nonprofit that has been supporting families in Sarasota and Manatee counties since 1990 by helping build resiliency, self-sufficiency, and stability. Through programs ranging from its free store and family support services to crisis relief and transportation assistance, Mothers Helping Mothers provides essential resources that help thousands of local families each year.

One of those everyday essentials is diapers and wipes. Thanks to generous community donations, families with children still in diapers receive these much-needed items during their appointments, helping ease the financial burden on parents while ensuring children have what they need to thrive. On average, Mothers Helping Mothers serves more than 120 families each week through its free store, providing diapers, wipes, and other essential items to local parents.

Ashley Salmons, Community Engagement Director at Mothers Helping Mothers, shared just how critical donations like these are to the families they serve:

"We serve more than 120 families each week through our free store, where each family receives a pack of diapers and wipes for children who need them. We rely on our community to donate these essential items. Hosting community drives is always welcome and very appreciated because it truly takes a village."

Ashley also shared an eye-opening reality many people may not realize: government assistance programs such as SNAP and WIC cannot legally be used to purchase diapers. As a result, many parents are often forced to make difficult choices between diapers and other everyday necessities. Community donations help fill that gap and ensure local children have access to the essentials they need.

With hurricane season underway, donations become even more critical. Mothers Helping Mothers is working proactively to help families prepare before a storm by providing essential items like diapers and wipes ahead of time. For many families, stocking up simply isn't financially possible, making community support essential to helping them stay safe, prepared, and cared for before disaster strikes.

A Community Effort with Lasting Impact

This year's drive brought together REALTORS®, business partners, local brokerages, and community members who donated diapers (sizes 1–6) and baby wipes at both RASM offices and multiple collection sites throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties.

When the drive concluded, the generosity of our community spoke for itself.

Thanks to the support of Sunshine Movers, who generously donated a moving van and staff member to assist with collection, donations were picked up from participating offices across Sarasota and Manatee counties. By the end of the day, the van was filled with diapers and wipes that will soon make their way into the hands of local families through Mothers Helping Mothers.

What started as individual donations across our community became one van full of hope for local families.

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The success of this initiative would not have been possible without the collaboration of so many dedicated volunteers and partners. Special thanks to Jennifer McClendon, Vice Chair of the RASM Community Outreach Committee, for coordinating the partnership with Mothers Helping Mothers and helping bring this year's drive to life. We also extend our sincere appreciation to Debbie Eisenback, Chair of the RASM Community Outreach Committee, for coordinating donation collection efforts with Sunshine Movers and participating offices throughout the community.

Debbie Eisenback, Chair of the RASM Community Outreach Committee, reflected on the generosity of everyone who participated:

"On behalf of the RASM Community Outreach Committee, a huge thank you to everyone who supported our Mothers Helping Mothers diaper and wipe drive this past June! Your generous donations of these absolute essentials are already making a massive difference for local families. We are incredibly grateful for our community's overwhelming kindness and support!"

Thanks to the generosity of our members and community partners, the donations collected during this drive will continue supporting local families throughout the summer while helping Mothers Helping Mothers prepare families with essential supplies before the next storm, ensuring they have critical necessities when they need them most.

Get Involved

This drive reflects the mission of the RASM Community Outreach Committee: connecting REALTORS® and business partners with meaningful opportunities to give back while strengthening the communities we serve. When members come together around a common cause, the impact extends far beyond a single donation drive. It strengthens families, supports trusted community partners, and demonstrates the difference REALTORS® can make outside of real estate.

Learn more about the incredible work of Mothers Helping Mothers and the many ways they support local families by visiting https://mhmsarasota.org/.

The work doesn't stop here. The Community Outreach Committee continues to create opportunities for REALTORS®, business partners, and the community to make a positive impact through volunteer projects and donation drives throughout the year. Upcoming initiatives include our Back-to-School Drive benefiting The Twig throughout the month of August.

To learn more about RASM Community Outreach and discover how you can get involved in future initiatives, visit https://www.myrasm.com/outreach/. Together, we can continue making a meaningful difference in the communities we proudly serve.