LAWRENCE — Usually during Lent, the faithful try to give up a certain food or a bad habit.
Communities Together challenged them to donate something in the six weeks before Easter, instead.
The flock answered with 18,000 diapers, underpants and baby wipes for children living in poor families in Lawrence and Haverhill.
"This is a blessing to get them," said the Rev. Susan Santos of Centro de Adoracion Jesucristo es el Senor. "It's great that they share what they have received. When people see that love and help among each other, it's an example to them that we are practicing what we preach."
People from the 25 Merrimack Valley congregations, which make up Communities Together, gave generously, making the drive a huge success.
Neighbors In Need, the Salvation Army, Lazarus House, Women's Resource Center, Family Service Inc., Si Se Puede after-school program and Bread and Roses, all in Lawrence, as well as Emmaus House and Pregnancy Care Center, in Haverhill, will receive the goods.
Communities Together started collecting socks and underwear after a local pastor told David Edwards, the agency's executive director, that some children were going without. Diapers and pull-ups were later added to the items collected.
Communities Together has had its drive during Lent for 11 years. This year, Lent was from Feb. 6 to March 23. Donations have increased annually, with 25 percent more collected in the past year.
"It's not overwhelming," said Bobbie Weller, chairwoman of the drive who is also a member of Christian Fellowship Church of Merrimack Valley. "I feel blessed to be part of the collecting of it. "
Weller credits the program's success to donors, including St. Michael Church in North Andover. She said members post signs at the back of the church asking for specific donations such as children's underwear, socks and diapers. St. Michael parishioners take the tags home and bring the items the following week.
Donations range from 12-diaper bags to cases containing 152 diapers.
"It's remarkable," Edwards said of the increase in donations. "I think we've received so much because more people are seeing the need themselves when they go to the supermarket. Those who can help are being incredibly generous."
There is a great need for diapers, said Linda Zimmerman, executive director of Neighbors in Need food pantries. People who receive public assistance cannot rely on the Food Stamps or Women, Infants and Children programs to help buy diapers.
"Every single day, people come looking for clothing and underwear," said Zimmerman, who gives out 20,000 diapers a year.
Rachel Thompson, a development associate at Emmaus House, said the diaper and underwear donations come in handy at the homeless shelter. She said there are between 20 and 30 children at the shelter who could use diapers and pull-ups.
"We would not be able to assist families if this was not readily available," Thompson said. "It's an important and essential part of our program."
Lana Schofield, communications director at Lazarus House, agrees.
"The donation is incredibly important," Schofield said. "Sometimes, we have 30 to 40 children from infants to toddlers, and diapers are always a big help."
If not for the diaper donations through Communities Together, Santos, Zimmerman, Thompson and Schofield said they would have to dip into their operating budgets to buy diapers — something that's always on their wish lists.
"With the state of the economy today, we're really thankful about anything that we can (have donated) because we need it more than ever," Schofield said.
