LOS ANGELES – Fear, confusion, and scarcity is how Tiffany Corletto describes the current climate in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.  She said she tried over and over unsuccessfully to buy diapers for her 1-year-old daughter.

"I went to Walmart, I went to Target, but they don’t have her size,” said Corletto. “And when I tried to order online, it said it’s not eligible for pick-up or delivery.”

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Then she found Community’s Child online, a service center for women and children in need. They provided her with diapers and food. She says after losing her part-time job at a school recently, then being denied unemployment benefits, the supplies from Community’s Child have been a relief.

“There’s help out here and it’s a lot,” said Corletto. “It’s very helpful.”

Interim executive director Dede Ornelas wants to encourage more people to come by and pick up supplies, but after the latest stay-at-home order she says people are unsure what to do.

 

 

 

“Many people don’t understand what the Safer at Home means and so they think if they go out they might arrested or get a ticket,” said Ornelas. “We’re still open because we have an essential need and that is food, so anybody can come here and get food or diapers.”

And for Corletto everything remains uncertain, including how she’s going to pay her rent, and whether or not she can appeal her unemployment denial.  But in the meantime, she is thankful for Community’s Child.

“This will give you some cushion until everything’s back to normal,” said Corletto.

She wants other people to know there are resources available and not to lose hope.