Lakeland youngster’s diaper drive mission

Diapers are probably not such a distant memory for this young philanthropist.

A young boy sits atop one of many stacks of diaper boxes.

TJ Moreno has made diaper donation his mission

Photo by Tina Moreno

Lakeland five-year-old TJ Moreno was applauded by a slew of volunteers, staff members, and foster families when he donated more than 150 boxes of diapers to One More Child on Thursday, Nov. 17.

This isn’t TJ’s first time around the benefactor block — in 2021, TJ aimed to donate 30 boxes of diapers. Wondering why 30? Well, simply put, that’s about as high as he could count at the time. With that goal quickly surpassed, TJ decided to up the ante for his 2022 goal and set his sights on 100 boxes. Friends, family members, and local businesses like Tessier’s Tasty Treats, Progressive Printers-Florida, Integrated Health of Lakeland, and Il Forno helped TJ raise 162 boxes over 14,000 diapers — for One More Child.

Why One More Child? TJ wanted to give diapers to kids in need, and with an impact of 324,467 children and individuals across 50 locations in 2021, One More Child was the perfect place to lend a hand. In 2021, 18 million meals were provided by the organization.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering how TJ’s counting is going, here he is counting his diaper haul into the hundreds.

More from LALtoday
This annual festival celebrates all things aviation. Save this guide to admission, activities, and aviation fun.
Students can now order food online, and an AI-powered food delivery robot will bring it directly to their location. Would you like to see this tech in another part of Lakeland?
Let us plan your nightly entertainment with movies, live music, and stage shows, plus the perfect places to grab a bite.
In response to a statewide water shortage, the Southwest Florida Water Management District is enacting water restrictions for Polk County and surrounding areas.
Polk County Public Schools just broke ground on Junior Achievement’s innovative new Discovery Center where students will get hands-on business experience.
When it comes to hyperspecific food festival themes, Central Florida has the recipe down pat.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
Wellness
Get your steps in and find a sense of sisterhood with this group that meets weekly for walks along Lakeland’s most picturesque trails.
Get a rare look inside some of Lakeland’s most historic homes on this walking tour of the Lake Morton neighborhood.
We’re diving into the average cost to rent in Lakeland compared to nearby cities.