Parents thankful for Mutual Aid at Metcalf Park

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Neighbors near Metcalf Park came out for an early Father's Day and Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 18.

The parents that came out also got some big help with things they need to get by.

Diapers, baby formula, activity books, blankets and pajamas were all going out to those living nearby.

Brittney Taylor, the park's health and safety organizer, said the need for all these things have skyrocketed.

"Really effected by the pandemic, a lot of these issues were already going on before the pandemic and so the pandemic really made those issues 10 times worse," said Taylor.

Milwaukee Diaper Mission founder and executive director Meagan Johnson said it's hard to know how bad things are.

"One in three U.S. families struggle to afford diapers, that statistic is staggering and it's actually pre-pandemic, we don't even know what effects the pandemic has had on diaper need," said Johnson.

Mother Marie Nelson knows first hand how much worse it got.

"It definitely did got harder because I was living in Chicago at the time, and we had to come to Milwaukee to get the diapers," she said.

Which is why her, along with father Rondell Rodgers, and their kids Riley, and RJ were out at Metcalf Park Saturday, June 18.

"It actually really helps a lot," said Nelson.