S.C. BlueChoice Medicaid to Accept Diaper Donations at Mount Pleasant Festival
October 12, 2009
Mount Pleasant – Those attending the 22nd Annual Town of Mount Pleasant Children’s Day Festival will have a chance to make a positive impact on the lives of some of the area’s youngest residents.
BlueChoice® HealthPlan of South Carolina’s Medicaid Division is asking everyone attending the festival to bring along a package of disposable diapers to donate to BlueChoice’s “Diaper Change” campaign, a statewide initiative to collect diapers for low-income families. BlueChoice Medicaid will place collection bins at its booth. Wipes and cash donations for the purchase of diapers also are needed.
The festival will be held at the Park West Recreation Complex from noon until 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18.
Diaper Change donations are distributed by food banks and other organizations to low-income families across South Carolina. BlueChoice Medicaid hopes to collect at least 250,000 diapers by the end of the year through collections at community events and from businesses, churches and civic organizations that hold Diaper Change drives of their own.
Keeping a baby in clean, dry disposable diapers can cost more than $100 per month, a price that is out of reach for many families. And cloth diapers are not always an option, as child care centers usually require parents to provide disposable ones.
“The sad fact is that too many babies in South Carolina spend an entire day in one diaper because their families cannot afford an adequate supply,” said BlueChoice HealthPlan President Mary Mazzola Spivey. “This often leads to serious health problems for our state’s children.
“Groups across our state are stepping up and holding diaper-collection events to help us reach our goal. We are thrilled to be a part of the Mount Pleasant Children’s Day Festival, and we appreciate the community’s support of Diaper Change.”
Charleston-area residents who want to donate diapers also may bring donations to the Lowcountry Food Bank or the SC BlueStoreSM, located in The Plaza at East Cooper Shopping Center, 615 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard. Churches, civic groups and businesses that want to hold their own diaper drives may call 803-382-5036, e-mail DiaperChange@bluechoicesc.com or go to www.SCDiaperChange.com.
Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina (www.BlueChoiceSC.com) is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BlueChoice HealthPlan has an A+ rating from A.M. Best and an Excellent accreditation status, the highest level awarded, from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
BlueChoice HealthPlan offers four categories of group health plans, as well as individual plans for children and young adults, and a South Carolina Medicaid product. Medicaid members enjoy their normal Medicaid coverage, plus they can visit the doctor’s office as often as needed with no copayments, save money with discounts on health programs such as weight management, receive discounts on fitness center memberships, and purchase allergy products, vitamins and more at discount savings. Members with some chronic diseases get extra help through BlueChoice HealthPlan’s Healthy Habits program. To inquire about membership, call 800-574-8864.
