Gateway Health Donates Diapers And Supplies To Catholic Charities' Pregnancy & Parenting

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In the spirit of the Christmas season, Gateway Health today delivered over 400 boxes of diapers to Catholic Charities, to be distributed to the parents of infants up to the age of two.

The donation, which will supply wipes, formula, and over 35,000 diapers to low-income families in the six counties served by Catholic Charities, marks a new collaboration between the two organizations.  Gateway Health is a longstanding supporter of Catholic Charities and an important community partner.

Catholic Charities' Pregnancy and Parenting program (P&P) provides pregnancy testing, parenting education and guidance, and tangible items to expectant women and parents of children two and under.  The program is partly funded through a grant administered by Real Alternatives, which provides support services as an alternative to abortion for women experiencing crisis pregnancies.  Catholic Charities offers these services out of all of their six county outreaches offices, serving up to 1,000 parents each year.

Earlier this year Catholic Charities Emerging Leaders Council (a group of philanthropic, community-minded professionals that serve as ambassadors for Catholic Charities) raised over 100,000 diapers for their P&P clients, in the "100,000 Diapers in 100 Days" drive.  But as every parent knows, infants go through diapers at a rate of knots: a newborn who wears, on average, 12 diapers a day, uses almost 4,400 in a year, costing his or her parents at least $650 per year.

There are no income requirements for participation in Catholic Charities' P&P services, which are provided free of charge until the children served reach the age of two. 

"We are so grateful to Gateway Health for this donation," says Executive Director of Catholic Charities, Susan Rauscher.  "It is so humbling to know that the women served no longer have to choose between buying diapers and putting food on the table," she adds.

"People living at the near-poverty level have budgets stretched to their limit. The inability to pay for diapers, wipes and formula have tremendous consequences for parents. Aside from the stress of having a child in a soiled diaper, it can prevent a parent from going to work or school. Gateway Health understands these challenges and we wanted to reach out to the community in the true spirit of the holiday season by supporting families," says Patti Darnley, President and CEO of Gateway Health.  "As a leading health plan, we are uniquely poised to have the local resources available to provide these must have baby supplies."

About Catholic Charities: Catholic Charities is the primary social service agency of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, serving all, regardless of religious affiliation, at their time of great need. With offices in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence and Washington counties, Catholic Charities has been providing programs and services since 1910. Catholic Charities offers counseling, a Free Health Care Center for the uninsured and underinsured, Senior Centers and Services (out of Lawrence County) homeless assistance, pregnancy and parenting support, refugee services, and more. For more information about our programs and services, visit www.ccpgh.org.

About Gateway Health: Gateway Health is a nationally ranked managed care organization that focuses on providing the best possible healthcare to Medicaid and Medicare Advantage consumers. Gateway Health serves the needs of at risk and vulnerable citizens and their communities with high quality, accessible health plans and provider networks. The organization provides Medicaid services in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia and Medicare coverage in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio and North Carolina. Gateway Health has nearly 25 years of experience being committed to innovative care models and quality clinical outcomes while being a leader in both Medicaid managed care and Medicare Advantage special needs and MAPD plans. To learn more about Gateway Health, please visit www.gatewayhealthplan.com.

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SOURCE Gateway Health