The third annual “Baby Blues & Bottoms” fundraiser for the Coahoma County Diaper Bank was held at Meraki Roasting Co. on Sunflower Avenue recently.
The Coahoma County Board of Supervisors and Clarksdale Board of Mayor and Commissioners each passed a resolution declaring Sept. 23 to 29 Diaper Need Awareness Week.
Guelel Kumba played African music on his guitar at the event while raffles were held giving away prizes including a TV. Donations were also taken.
According to Coahoma County Diaper Bank executive director Chelesa Presley, $1,700 was raised at the second fundraiser. Not as much money was raised in 2019.
“This year, we were hoping to raise the same amount, but we were competing against a lot of stuff this year,” Presley said.
Presley specifically said “Baby Blues & Bottoms” fundraiser was the same night as the President’s Gala at Coahoma Community College. However, she noted donations are taken all year long and anyone who would like to contribute to the diaper bank could call 662-351-3844.
She took the opportunity to report many of the organization’s accomplishments.
“We’re addressing diaper needs here in the Mississippi Delta,” Presley said. “We are the first nationally recognized diaper bank in the state of Mississippi. We’re a non-profit organization.”
The diaper bank also partnered with the Shoes from the Heart out of Missouri and gave away 147 pairs of shoes.
The issues extend beyond Coahoma County.
“Diaper needs is a national theme that’s going on,” Presley said.
Presley said she traveled to Washington D.C. in March and spoke to legislators.
“There has been a bipartisan bill that passed addressing diaper needs,” she said.
US Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith and Roger Wicker co-authored bill.
“They’re the only two Republicans on the bill and they’re from Mississippi, so we’re really, really happy about that,” Presley said.
Presley said the diaper bank serves 10 counties and is moving to the old Immaculate Conception Catholic school cafeteria building on Ritchie Avenue.
“One of three families are most definitely living below the poverty line in Coahoma County and in the Delta region, so this diaper bank is really a big access to our community,” Presley said.
Kumba entertains
Kumba comes from Senegal, moved to Oxford and then Clarksdale. Wherever he goes, the blues are popular.
“There is some kind of similarities between blues music and our traditional music,” Kumba said.
“Here it’s considered sad music, but where I’m from, it’s not sad.”
Kumba said the music is sadder in the United States because the blues goes back to slavery.
“They were not free, so the music is more complaining,” he said.
“In Africa, the same kind of music is joy.”
Kumba first came to Oxford with a friend who was studying history.
“The one who used to be his teacher came to Senegal one time when we were doing the blues festival,” Kumba said. “The guy came to Senegal as a scholar painting and writing teaching about the African roots and the blues.”
A few months later, the teacher passed away and Kumba and his friend paid tribute in Oxford.
While staying in Oxford, Kumba met his friend Chandra Williams, who is the executive director of the Crossroads Cultural Arts Center. Kumba and Williams are working on a project trying to see the similarities between the American and African culture.
