CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Herbert Erb, the coordinator of the Greater Hampton Roads Diaper Bank, was surprised with the WTKR News 3 Everyday Hero award for his work providing essential supplies to local families.
I first met Erb in 2025 when I reported on the organization to raise awareness about the free resource it offers to the community. The diaper bank collects diapers and pull-ups for babies and adults, giving them to 60 community partners across Hampton Roads.
"We are trying our best to meet what we are calling 'diaper need' among the community: those who are facing financial difficulties and the ones who have to make a tough decision between rent, food, utilities, and other basic needs," Erb said.
Not only does the diaper bank accept diaper and financial donations, but the board of directors also spends about $6,000 buying diapers each month.
"We've definitely experienced an increase in requests for diapers. There's no question about that," Erb said.
As proof of that need, community partner Delta Sigma Theta showed up to get diapers for their free community baby shower on April 25th at Calvary Baptist Church in Portsmouth from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
On our way to load the car with diapers for the baby shower, Erb introduced me to another familiar face who showed up.
"This is Darlene Phillips. She's one of our long-term volunteers," Erb said.
Little did he know, I had already met Phillips and invited her to be there. Phillips was an Everyday Hero award winner herself and wanted to pay it forward by nominating Erb.
When presented with the award, Erb was shocked.
"No, no, no, no! That is so nice," Erb said. He was speechless.
"I will say again, everything that we do here, I rely on a great board of directors, great volunteers, and great partners who are on the front-line giving diapers for families. So that's, that's who are the real heroes," Erb said.
Partners at Southern Bank upped their $300 gift to $425 to celebrate their 125th anniversary. It is a small token to help a nonprofit with a limited budget and space expand and help neighbors.
"Well, this will go to more diapers going out to more families, that's for sure," Erb said.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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