For many babies in diaper need, diaper banks are making a remarkable difference in their lives. With clean, dry diapers, babies are emotionally and physically healthier. And moms are less stressed and able to carry out one of their most important jobs as a parent—diapering.
"Every day, we see the strain that a lack of many essential items such as diapers places on already stressed families. We are proud to be part of HUGGIES® Every Little Bottom. Because of it, many moms will be assisted in having access to this much-needed product for their babies."
— Katharine Schmidt, Executive Director, Food Banks Canada
What is a diaper bank?
Diaper banks operate like food banks. They collect, store and distribute diapers to families who are having financial difficulties and can’t afford them. Diaper banks get the diapers in various ways: donations by individuals and local retailers, local diaper drives and other activities, and purchases made through fundraising dollars. And while some diaper banks give diapers directly to families in need, they’re usually distributed by local social service agencies such as women’s shelters, food pantries, publicly funded daycare centres and local church programs.
The diapers will be distributed across Canada through FBC's network of 10 provincial food bank associations and over 450 local food banks. In 2009 alone, close to 800,000 Canadians were assisted by a food bank in an average month—and of those households assisted, almost 50% of them were families with children. Select FBC members across the country also offer programs specifically designed to help families, including parenting, nutrition counselling and re-employment assistance.
Created by members of the community
Most diaper banks were started by moms who discovered that less fortunate moms in their communities didn’t have enough diapers. The thought of not being able to change your child’s diaper or having to resort to drying and reusing a disposable diaper was unimaginable to them. Realizing public resources are limited, as food assistance programs focus solely on food and nutrition and do not cover diapers, these dedicated citizens started to collect diapers through diaper drives and fundraising events. Soon, they were running the nation’s first diaper banks.
HUGGIES® is supporting diaper banks and helping them expand
At the moment, there are only a handful of diaper banks in the nation. HUGGIES® created Every Little Bottom to help support their local work and also to help make millions of diapers available across the U.S. After all, like the diaper bank founders, HUGGIES® goal is to help as many moms as possible have the diapers they need.
