Not Having Enough Diapers Stinks

If you’re a parent, you know how crucial it is to have enough diapers to keep your infant/toddler clean and dry.  Imagine if you didn’t have enough diapers and couldn’t afford to buy more?

In March I wrote an article about the need for diapers in Arkansas for the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.  Excerpts from that article are below.  This is something that should hit home for all of us, as this need affects families as a whole.  Please think about what you can do to help.

In Arkansas, a child is born into poverty every 47 minutes, according to the Children’s Defense Fund.  Knowing this, it’s no surprise that one in three American mothers struggle to provide their baby with diapers.  In fact, a 2010 study found that one in twenty of these struggling mothers has had to clean out and reuse a soiled diaper.

Not being able to afford diapers has negative effects beyond hygiene and health.  Most daycare providers require families to provide a full day’s supply of diapers.  If a mother can’t provide enough diapers, she can’t send her child to daycare, and she can’t go to work.

The Arkansas Rice Depot launched the Arkansas Diaper Depot in September of 2010 in an effort to help meet the diapering needs of families in Arkansas.  In partnership with Kimberly-Clark, who has facilities in Conway and Maumelle and makes Huggies diapers, and the Arkansas  chapter of March of Dimes, the Arkansas Diaper Depot is working across the state to connect diaper donations with families who need them.

Lauren McElroy, Vice President of the Arkansas Rice Depot, explained why cloth diapers are not an option for these families. “Many people suggest the use of cloth diapers to save money, but many families that live in poverty use public laundry facilities.  Most of those facilities do not allow cloth diapers to be laundered in their machines.”

In the current economy, the need for diapers and other baby supplies is growing.  A mother from Ward, who did not wish to be identified, was surprised to find that she was not alone in her need for diaper assistance. “We were driving to the Diaper Depot in Little Rock to pick up diapers for our son, and I had three other families call me along the way to see if I could pick up diapers for them, too.”  The mother, whose husband has been out of work for four months, said that the Diaper Depot has been a huge help.  “If it weren’t for them, I probably would not have diapers this week.”

The Arkansas Diaper Depot is one of five diaper banks in Arkansas that are taking and distributing diaper donations. “We’re currently identifying community partners across the state that work with families who need diapers,” McElroy says.  “We are also working to set up diaper drives with schools and community groups.”

Individuals who would like to donate diapers can do so through the diaper banks listed below. Several diaper banks take donations online through Amazon.com.  Search the wish lists for the name of the diaper bank you would like to donate to and purchase diapers from the list.  You can also check with your local foodbank to see if they have a need for diapers.

Arkansas Foodbank Network, Inc
8121 Distribution Drive
Little Rock, AR, 72209
(501)565-8121

Arkansas Rice Depot / Diaper Depot
3801 West 65th St
Little Rock, AR, 72209
(501)565-8855

River Valley Regional Food Bank
1420 North 32nd Street
Fort Smith, AR, 72904
(479)785-0582

Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas
3406 S. Culberhouse
Jonesboro, AR, 72404
(870)932-3663

Harvest Texarkana Regional Food Bank
3120 E 19th
Texarkana, AR, 71854
(870)774-1398

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