Through a bequest to NDBN, Swarthouts leave a legacy of caring
Claudia and Jim Swarthout’s lives have been all about giving – and their generosity will literally be part of their legacy. “Father Jim” is an Episcopal priest who has spent much of his career helping people into recovery from substance abuse. Claudia is a retired teacher. Their will includes a bequest to the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN). Father Jim served on the organization’s first board of directors when it was founded in 2011.
“We’re humbled to be a part of it, deeply humbled to have been, a part of it for so many years, and hopefully the good Lord keeps us going for another 20, so we’ll see how that goes,” he said.
“Whether a parent can afford it or not, every baby deserves to be comfortable and free of painful diaper rash,” Claudia added. Currently 1 in 2 U.S. families struggles to afford the diapers their children need to stay clean, dry, and healthy.
Their experience with diaper banking is personal. It began when a woman came into the parish food pantry and told Father Jim that she could not afford diapers for her baby. That led him to work to establish a diaper bank in McHenry in Illinois, their home community. Researching how to get such an organization started, he connected with Joanne Samuel Goldblum who would soon launch NDBN. At the time, he discovered about ten basic needs banks in the country. Today NDBN has more than 300 member nonprofits, who make diapers, period supplies, or both freely available to families in need.
Asked what the logistics of setting up the bequest were like, the couple said in unison, “Easy peasy!” They encourage people leaving estates of any size to explore legacy giving as a way of supporting great causes – and setting an example for the next generation.
“We share that information with our nieces and our nephews. the next generation, so that they can see their Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Claudia really believe in caring for the next generation, too, and hopefully they’ll pick that up and continue that process in the future. So in a way, hopefully, it’s mentoring,” Father Jim said.
