HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – Thursday, November 9, was the Great Diaper Drive’s Blitz Day — and the numbers are in!

News 19 viewers who visited us at Walmart donated 60,669 diapers and wipes on Thursday.

While these are not the final numbers for the entire diaper drive, that is more than 1,600 over last year’s Blitz Day total of 58,993.

We had a small donation-based competition between meteorologist Ben Smith and morning anchor Steve Johnson. Ben won with a whopping $655! However, Steve raised a solid $321.

  • Emiliegh Forrester, Carmen Fuentes and Ben Smith hang out with Pam Birkholz, owner of Interiors by Consign. (photo: WHNT)
  • Jerry Hayes, Gregg Stone and Christine Killimayer volunteering at the Great Diaper Drive 2023 (photo: WHNT)
  • Steve Johnson, Erich West and Ben Smith with donation competition jars (photo: WHNT)
  • Ben, Carmen and Emileigh sort Diaper Drive donations. (photo: WHNT)
  • Meteorologist Ben Smith and photographer Gregg Stone go live at the Great Diaper Drive (photo: WHNT)
  • Kayla Smith and Aaron Ayers at the Great Diaper Drive 2023. (photo: WHNT)
  • Daeshai and Kasey were our wonderful hosts for the 2023 Chili Cook-off. (photo: WHNT)
  • News 19 2023 Chili Cook-Off winner – “A Taste of Steak” (photo: WHNT)
  • Witt from Creative Services sampling the vegetarian chili (photo: WHNT)
  • Several News 19 team members donated money, diapers and wipes at this year’s Chili Cook-Off. (photo: WHNT)
  • Several News 19 team members donated money, diapers and wipes at this year’s Chili Cook-Off. (photo: WHNT)

Here at the station, we also had a small fundraiser. Our station-wide chili cookoff raised $137.47, 81 diapers and 488 wipes!

We are waiting for the remainder of the donations to be tallied, and will continue to keep you updated on how our viewers helped families all over the Tennessee Valley.