Caroline Kunitz

Co-founder and Executive Director, LA Diaper Drive
Los Angeles, California

Watching the Today show one morning, Caroline happened to see Jessica Seinfeld talk about a diaper drive she was holding to raise a million diapers. "I had a 2-year-old child and when she talked about how low-income moms had to choose between diapers and food, it broke my heart," says Caroline.

Caroline mentioned the show to the first person she saw, Melissa Ratcliff, and a few months later they decided to try to raise a million diapers. And while it took them five years to raise that many diapers, it was the beginning of LA Diaper Drive.

Started in 1995, it now distributes 700,000 diapers a year to 1,300 families through 22 social service agencies. And, it's run entirely by volunteers. "No one makes a salary," says Caroline. "Virtually every penny we fundraise goes directly to the purchase and delivery of diapers." While raising money is Caroline's greatest challenge today, in the past it was going from store-to-store to find a manager willing to sell diapers at a discount.

Soon after they started, a social service agency found out about LA Diaper Drive and asked them to donate diapers to a parenting class as an attendance incentive for low-income moms. It turned out to be such a successful motivation, LA Diaper Drive almost always use their diapers to get parents to attend classes like GED prep, parenting life skills and non-violent discipline. One mom walks a mile to get to parenting class so she can receive diapers. "Getting those diapers is changing her life," says Caroline.

Caroline has endless stories about families whose lives are better because they now have enough diapers. For Julia, getting diapers means she has enough money left to be able to adequately feed her 5 children. For Adelina, getting diapers means she can take her kids to day care—which requires diapers—so she can go back to school to complete her GED.

Proud to partner with the Every Little Bottom Program, Caroline believes that one of the most important things to come out of the campaign is overall awareness of diaper need. And, she's thrilled that it will allow her to connect with other diaper banks. "The more we connect with each other and know what each other is doing," says Caroline, "the more successful we can all be."

"You can borrow a crib or stroller," says Caroline, "but you can't borrow diapers. Receiving diapers can mean a family can pay rent and buy food. It can prevent stress and improve a baby's health. The result is far bigger than just giving diapers."