1 out of 3
American families
struggle to keep their baby
in diapers.
The Problem
Mothers in needy homes are unable to provide diapers for their babies for a variety of reasons:
- Many organizations don’t provide diapers.
- Food assistance programs generally don’t cover diapers.
- Many laundromats don’t allow washing cloth diapers for sanitary reasons, making them an unrealistic option.
The lack of diapers cause babies to suffer:
- Babies may be kept in wet or dirty diapers or wear used diapers that have been cleaned or dried out.
- These babies cry from discomfort and suffer from diaper rash when they can not be changed as often as required.
- Three in five families in need miss work or school due to a lack of sufficient diapers to send their children to child care, day care or early education programs.
“I’ve seen moms use plastic shopping bags to diaper babies. This simple basic thing – providing diapers – can make such a direct impact on people’s lives.”
Kristin Grabo, Diaper Bank of Southern Arizona
Diaper Banks
Most diaper banks were started by individuals who discovered that less fortunate moms in their communities didn’t have enough diapers.
These dedicated citizens started to collect diapers through diaper drives and fundraising events to stock the nation’s first diaper banks so free baby diapers can be distributed to families suffering from financial difficulty.
Some serve a single neighborhood, some an entire region. Others are based in churches – most are run by volunteers.
Want to know the diaper statistics in your state?
Check out the interactive map at the National Diaper Bank Network or download the statistics about all states in the PDF.
Want to Help?
- Donate diapers, baby formula or a diaper bag full of baby needs products to your local diaper bank or food bank.
- If you’re hosting a baby shower, have a raffle for people who bring diapers to be donated to your neighborhood diaper bank.
- If you’re a Huggies Rewards member, you can send your points directly to the NDBN.
- Volunteer at a diaper bank in your community.
- Make a financial donation to the National Diaper Bank Network.
- Host a diaper drive yourself, or through your church, school or office. Here’s how.
- Start a diaper bank in your area. For more information visit the National Diaper Bank Network, listen to this online webinar, or read this manual.
Local Diaper Banks by Region
Western:
Bay Area Diaper Bank, Silicon Valley, CA
Help A Mother Out, Greater San Francisco and Greater LA Area
LA Diaper Drive, Los Angeles, CA
WestSide Baby, Seattle, WA
Southern:
Atlanta Community Food Bank, Atlanta, GA
Destiny Diaper Bank, Southwest Florida
Diaper Bank of Southern AZ, Southern AZ
Midwest:
Diaper Bank of Northern Indiana, South Bend, IN
The St. Paul Diaper Bank Partnership, McHenry, IL
East:
The Diaper Bank of Connecticut, New Haven, CT
For a more up to date listing of Diaper Banks, please visit NationalDiaperBankNetwork.org.
SOURCE: Huggies
