Diapers Needed. Who Knew?

Written by Corinne Garcia Friday, December 24 2010

Diapers Needed Who KnewMaybe you’re well past the years of having children in diapers. Maybe you haven’t yet reached that milestone or never want to. Or maybe you’re in the thick of diaper duty, and you know just how many can get used up in a day. Whatever stage you may be in, you can take part in large-scale diaper duty for a good cause: diaper need.

Initiatives to curb diaper need in Atlanta started in early 2010, and already moms and babies are reaping the benefits of caring communities and the organizations that have teamed up to bring this issue to light. And now, through the holiday season, these organizations are challenging communities to keep the donations coming.

What is Diaper Need?
One in three mothers in the United States has to cut back on household necessities in order to afford diapers. Some are forced to reuse soiled diapers, and some miss work because they can’t afford the number of daily diapers required at day care centers. Food assistance programs, such as food stamps, don’t cover diapers, leading to diaper need, a national issue that has been on the rise and, until recently, out of the spotlight.

Kimberly-Clark, manufacturer of Huggies brand diapers, learned about diaper need from stories shared with the company from local diaper bank partners, and it wasn’t long until the company sprang into action.

“We are passionate about this issue because babies and mothers are at the core of the Huggies brand,” says Craig Wanous, Huggies senior brand manager. “Getting involved in the solution to help was a natural fit for us.”

In early 2010, Kimberly-Clark conducted the first-ever study of its kind, the “Huggies Every Little Bottom Study,” and Womenetics reported on the disturbing findings.

Womenetics teamed up with the Atlanta Community Food Bank, the Junior League of Atlanta, and Kimberly-Clark to start diaper drives and distribution programs throughout the greater Atlanta. The goal is to raise awareness of the diaper need issue and help mothers and babies fulfill their needs and reduce the stress that comes along with it.

“We are deeply committed to helping raise awareness of diaper need,” says Wanous. “With one in three American mothers struggling to provide their babies with diapers, we are helping lead a nationwide response to this issue.”

Addressing the Need
The Atlanta Community Food Bank has known about the need for diapers locally for some time. “We have recognized that the need has always been there,” explains Janice Reece, director of marketing for the Food Bank. “Food versus non-food – it’s just a matter of where to put our energies. We’re finding that as the need continues to grow on the food side, the need continues to grow on the non-food side.” Up until the Every Little Bottom campaign, the Food Bank had to concentrate more on the food side. But thanks to Kimberley-Clark and partners, that’s changed.

Diaper Drives & Distribution
“We hope to collect at least 10,000 diapers across Georgia for families in need,” says Audra Dial, Junior League of Atlanta president. “Our goal as the Junior League of Atlanta is to satisfy at least one child's diaper needs for his or her lifetime.”

And it looks as if the organization will succeed. Partnering with the Food Bank of Atlanta and all of the other Junior Leagues in Georgia, the Junior League of Atlanta is raising awareness and increasing donations. The Atlanta Junior League has been collecting diapers at all membership meetings, member events, community events, and at its headquarters and thrift store locations. Prior to its December Breakfast with Santa membership event, the Junior League of Atlanta asked all attendees to bring diapers with them.

“Of all people, members with young children are well aware of the need for diapers and the importance of having a large supply of them as a new mom,” Dial says.

Angie Clawson, public relations manager for the Atlanta Community Food Bank, explains that the Junior League really kick started the whole drive and distribution process by addressing the community. And on top of those donations, a second truckload of diapers has just been delivered to the Food Bank from Kimberly-Cark/Huggies.

After the donations come in, the Atlanta Community Food Bank distributes diapers to area low-income families and sends many out through partner agencies, more than 700 organizations.

“This program for us is a no-brainer,” says Clawson. “If we can provide something that people would normally have to purchase, it puts more money in their hands to buy the food they need.”

Anticipating Future Needs
“The need has been out there, and now there’s going to be a more consistent flow of that item,” Reece says, explaining that those agencies that are now receiving diapers have been thrilled. “Since Kimberly-Clark has launched this, it gets validated every single day here.”

The Huggies Every Little Bottom campaign is almost halfway to its goal of 24.5 million diapers, with 11 million donations so far. And the Junior League of Atlanta and area partners are making good headway toward their goal of 10,000 diapers. But they’re not there yet.

“From its inception, Every Little Bottom has always been about helping bring attention to the issue of diaper need and working to develop a sustainable solution,” Wanous says. “And, this is just the beginning. Every Little Bottom is an ongoing program that will continue to distribute diaper donations and activate local communities to get involved.”

What You Can Do
There are many ways to get involved, no matter where you live:

 

Corinne Garcia is a freelance writer and editor living with her husband and two young boys in Bozeman, Mont. She has also written for Women’s Adventure, Christian Science Monitor, Northwest Travel, Pregnancy, Fit Pregnancy, and Fit Parent.




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