Hundreds show up for diaper distribution event

In the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Babycycle Diaper Bank has stepped up to provide support for Tampa Bay families affected by the storms.

The nonprofit organization held a hurricane disaster relief event on Tuesday, distributing essential items to those in need. The event, at Babycycle’s warehouse in Pinellas Park, saw a steady stream of hundreds of families seeking assistance. Dozens of volunteers worked to distribute diapers, wipes, hygiene products, toys, clothing and other essential items to help families regain a sense of normalcy.

Torrie Jasuwan, founder of Babycycle Diaper Bank, said this is the third event the nonprofit has held since Hurricane Helene hit Sept. 26, and more than 500 people have shown up each time.

“The need is just so high right now, and I think so many people are not only displaced, but without everything,” Jasuwan said. “We felt it was extremely important to not only host a give-back event, but to do something fun so people could get a break from cleaning out their houses and dealing with flood insurance and all the things that come along with the storms.”

In addition to distributing supplies, Babycycle hired La Strada food truck to hand out free meals, raffled off various prizes and gift cards, and had live music on site.

Eve Choeykrajang has been volunteering with Babycycle since it was founded in 2012. The St. Petersburg resident said it’s difficult to see how much people in the area have lost, but encouraging to know that people and organizations in the community are stepping up to help.

Torrie Jasuwan, founder of Babycycle Diaper Bank, said the nonprofit gave out over 100,000 diapers and wipes, and more than 25,000 toys and hygiene items at its Oct. 22 distribution event.

“Babycycle is a huge help because before it was started, there really wasn’t like it around,” Choeykrajang said. “We volunteered when Shore Acres flooded as well, and that was so sad. But it’s amazing to see the people that turn up and just come out and help the community.”

Aadil Mohammed, another Babycycle volunteer, owns a convenience store in St. Pete that was looted after Hurricane Milton. Despite the setback, he’s determined to continue giving back at a time when so many are still struggling.

“My store got a little bit of damage from the roof for the Milton, but it was unfortunate that we didn’t have power for five days back-to-back, so it got looted because there were no cameras, no street lights; the whole block was dark,” Mohammed recounted. “I was in shock, but we still wanted to be here to help today because I personally know a lot of my customers from my business that were in need of diapers after the hurricane hit and I was able to redirect them to Babycycle. It hits home when you have a kid; you’re able to relate to the other parents’ needs and what they go through.”

2-year-old Nathan from Clearwater was grateful for the opportunity to pick out a new stuffed animal at Babycycle’s hurricane disaster response event.

Babycycle provides childcare supplies year-round, but quickly mobilized its resources in response to the hurricanes. The organization leveraged its existing networks and partnerships to gather donations and organize distribution events.

“We distribute through 35 agency partners in different nonprofits, and we have been doing disaster relief for the past decade, so we already had all of these partners in place because we’ve been working with them for many years in other cities,” Jasuwan explained. “So it’s really impactful and just an amazing feeling to be able to have those partners come here and donate in our own city.”

As Tampa Bay continues to grapple with the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, nonprofits are continuing to play a crucial role in the Tampa Bay area’s recovery. Their efforts underscore the importance of grassroots initiatives in disaster response and highlight the power of community solidarity in times of crisis.

“We’ve seen a significant uptick in requests for help. Many families who were already struggling have been pushed to the brink by these storms. Our goal is to reach as many of them as possible,” Jasuwan said.

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