Lori Campbell, left, of the Butler Public Library, and Debbie Edinger of the Butler County Children's Center, shop on behalf of the Butler County Paper Pantry, which provides diapers and other paper goods to needy families. Paper products cannot be purchased with food stamps, so the Paper Pantry is targeting that need.

When families face financial crisis, many apply for food stamps and seek extra help from food pantries.

Between the two, grocery dollars are stretched. But necessities like toilet paper and diapers often remain scarce.

"You cannot get those with food stamps, and they are expensive," said Anna Mae Rock of Child Care Information Services, one of several agencies collaborating on a way to help.

"We were brainstorming about what the clients need," Rock added. "They said, 'We have food, but we can't afford toilet paper.'"

That conversation was held last spring during the The Week of the Young Child, which was declared by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and led to the formation of the Butler County Paper Pantry. The pantry is a committee dedicated to donating paper products to the needy. Other participants include the Butler County Children's Center, Center for Community Resources and the Butler Public Library.

Although diapers and toilet paper are in demand, the committee also provides wet wipes, paper towels, tissues and feminine hygiene products.

The group began meeting officially in August after receiving a $1,000 grant from the Butler Collaborative for Families, to which all the participating agencies belong.

Paper drives have since been held at some of the collaborative's member agencies as well as The Art Center on Main Street.

Goods are distributed to food cupboards by the Butler County Community Action and Development Agency, which already provides local cupboards with food.

Debbie Gould, a spokeswoman for Community Action, said cupboards always can use paper products, but her state funds are designated for food.

"Food is very very important, but lots of times it's important to have (paper goods, soap and laundry soap). A lot of that stuff has gone up in price."

As part of its initial $1,000 grant, the Paper Pantry received 10 hours of service from grant writer Sally Beatty, who also is affiliated with the collaborative.

Although members of the group wrote and received a subsequent $500 grant from Wal-Mart on their own, Beatty is compiling letters to other potential sponsors.

"She's well over her 10 hours, and she is sticking with us," Rock said. "We're thankful for that."

Kelly Slair, who represents the Center for Community Resources as the Paper Pantry secretary, said the group has already provided about 500 diapers and distributed more than 60 packages of toilet paper, 43 boxes of tissues, 41 packs of paper towels, 14 packages of wipes and miscellaneous feminine products. Those items were accumulated through food drives and the Wal-Mart grant. Unsure of how donation trends would evolve, the group saved its initial $1,000 to ensure it could distribute some goods even in slow donation months.

Also uncertain of future grants, the Paper Pantry hopes to increase community support and awareness. One such effort will include a Kids Expo hosted in June by Sen. Jane Orie, in which the group will challenge the community to fill a bus with products.

For information or to donate, contact Laura Dobson, CCR, at 724-431-3612 or Rock at 724-285-9431.