WILTON — Fourteen-year-old Gracie Ward’s idea to start The Little Tushies Diaper Bank in March as part of a school philanthropic project continues to be a success.

She wanted to raise awareness so that all babies have clean diapers to wear. Her goal was to provide disposable diapers to local families in need.

She has collected more than 8,000 diapers since her diaper drive began, Ward said.

“I have personally served 53 families and have worked several times with Care and Comfort,” a home health care service in Wilton, she said.

Her parents have let her set up an office in the basement of the family’s home. She is home-schooled on most subjects, and with an office so close she now has more time to spend on her project.

She continues to receive coupons from people all over Maine and as far away as Colorado.

“I am still raising money on my gofundme page, and even have a supporter who donates every single month,” she said.

During the past year she had a personal meeting with Gov. Paul LePage.

“I was so incredibly nervous that day, but I did my best to convey the importance of my diaper drive and he was very supportive,” Ward said. “It was a wonderful experience.”

She also won a competitive grant for more than $700 from Farmington SOUP, a group from the University of Maine at Farmington. She immediately put the money in her diaper bank.

“My diaper drive Facebook page has gained followers from all over the world. Some even as far away as Japan,” she said.

“I have family and friends in all other states that are always ‘sharing’ my page and my information so I know my efforts are farther-reaching than just my awesome little town of Wilton, Maine, which is really the bigger picture of my drive. I not only wanted to help my community, but I wanted to bring awareness to everyone everywhere that clean, fresh diaper need is a real issue and that families struggle to provide this basic necessity — no matter where they’re from.”

She still accepts coupons that people do not need, and unused diapers. Coupons can be sent to The Little Tushies, P.O. Box 1201, Wilton, ME 04294.

Donations can be made to gofundmepage at www.gofundme.com/nvw3z0.

Ward can be reached by email at [email protected].

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