July 27, 2022

Record Diaper Donation Helps Meet Basic Needs 

Any parent will tell you diapers are an expensive necessity.  Prior to the pandemic, 1 in 3 American families faced diaper need – the inability to afford a sufficient supply of diapers to keep young children clean, dry and healthy.  A local nonprofit – Babies Need Bottoms diaper bank – is leveraging national support and local funding to make a difference for WNC families facing diaper need.  As a member of the National Diaper Bank Network, Babies Need Bottoms recently received a record donation of over 230,000 diapers from Huggies.  Funding received from Dogwood Health Trust enabled Babies Need Bottoms to expand capacity to be able to accept and distribute a donation of this size.

 

“This recent donation of over 230,000 diapers will increase our capacity to consistently serve over 55 community partners, who reach an average of over 1,300 children every month,” said Alicia Heacock, Co-Executive Director for Babies Need Bottoms. “We are so grateful to Huggies, the National Diaper Bank Network, Dogwood Health Trust and the community donors and volunteers who support this effort.”

 

Families raising babies and young children right now are facing extraordinary circumstances. With the ongoing impact of COVID-19, lack of sufficient childcare options, a nationwide formula shortage, inflation and the rising costs of goods – meeting basic needs is more expensive, and more difficult than ever.

 

Many people are shocked to learn public assistance programs like SNAP (food stamps) and WIC cannot be used to purchase diapers and no government assistance program provides them in NC. Diaper banks, like Babies Need Bottoms, are a grassroots response to help local families meet this basic need for our littlest community members.

 

“Parents consistently report receiving our diapers reduces their stress, makes them feel like a better parent and helps them afford other basics for their family, like food, rent and gas. These diapers will have a tremendous impact on the health, well-being and functioning of local children and families.” Meagan Lyon Leimena, Co-Executive Director for Babies Need Bottoms.

 

“Babies Need Bottoms is a reliable resource for children and families in Western North Carolina. Through the donation of Huggies diapers, our goal is to help build upon the strong community support that the organization has garnered and to continue the efforts to end diaper need in the community.  Like all diaper bank programs, Babies Need Bottoms relies on ongoing community support to help children and families reach their full potential.” – Troy Moore, Chief of External Affairs, National Diaper Bank Network

 

“The work of Babies Need Bottoms illustrates the power of collaboration to improve the health and wellbeing of families,” said Dr. Susan Mims, CEO of Dogwood Health Trust. “We are honored to help support the dedicated staff, engaged volunteers, and community distribution partners of Babies Need Bottoms who have helped hundreds of WNC families experience one less barrier to their ability to live, learn, earn, and thrive.”