“All diapers are expensive and all babies need diapers”, said Kate Bonestroo of Diaper Drive.
Though the cost of diapers vary by age, it can add up very quickly.
“It’s about $1,000 a year to put babies in diapers.” That can be a very difficult expense for families. 5.3 million children across the country under 3 years old live in low income families.
“Nationally, 47 percent of our babies ages birth to three live in low income families. In Minnesota it’s 36 percent. So, that’s about 150,000 babies that are living in low income families.” Those families don’t get any help for purchasing diapers. Diapers can not be purchased through WIC or through EBT or through any public assistance program set up to financially help low income families.
“You could get food or clothing, but for diapers there is no safety net program at all. So that’s why the need for diaper bags are spreading up throughout the state”, said Bonestroo.
These bags aren’t just springing up here in Minnesota, but all throughout the country.
“There’s 44 states that have diaper bags and we are happy to be one of them.”
The Diaper Drive is based in Spring Lake Park and collects diapers and wipes for families in need.
“We have about three main sources for how diapers get here. We have several drop off sites in the Twin Cities areas so people can drop off their diapers; unopened packages as well as open packages.”
Beyond the drop off sites, individuals and organizations also drop off cash and hold diaper drives on their behalf. Recently a Boy Scout completed his Eagle Scout project by collecting diapers for them. He was able to collect more than 11,000 diapers filling more than 20 percent of their annual goals. After the diapers are collected, the diaper drive works to get them into the hands of those in need.
“We work with partner agencies in the Twin cities area that serve with low income families and they, every month or so, will send us a need list. Whatever they need they send us a slip and then we try and fill that order. They come, pick them up bring them out and then they distribute the diapers to the families.”
The diaper drive is always in need of diapers and wipes but some needs seem to be greater than others.
“The larger sizes are always a big need, fives and sixes, and our pull-ups are always a really big need.”
Another need is volunteers. Volunteering with the Diaper Drive can look a lot of different ways depending on your strengths and interests. Bonestroo encourages others to volunteer.
“It’s really flexible. It would be picking up at one of our diaper drive sites, it would be coming and sorting diapers, putting them in these bags and marking them so we can easily distribute them. It could be, hosting a diaper drive yourself at your organization or virtual diaper drives are really popular now.”
Kate got involved with the diaper drive after she retired. Finding this organization was a great fit for her, and a great platform for her to share the need for diapers with others. She’s motivated by the needs of families who don’t have enough money to change their baby’s diapers as often as they should, leading to rashes, and more.
“We absolutely know diaper rash which can lead to urinary tract infections. And then what happens to those babies when they have those rashes?”
On top of that, if children don’t have diapers, parents usually can’t bring them to daycare, causing even more issues.
“And so if the kids don’t have diapers then the parents can’t go to work and so it’s just a cycle of poverty and poor health for our little ones that at that time in their life, they really just need to feel safe and loved and diapers will do that! Just a simple diaper”, Bonestroo concluded.
Governor Dayton has declared this week to be Diaper Need Awareness Week, helping to draw attention to this issue. The Diaper Drive will be participating in a metro-wide diaper drive in mid October. They will be collecting sealed packages and open packages of diapers from anyone willing to donate. You can learn more about The Diaper Drive, including how to get involved by clicking here.
