KANEOHE, Hawaii (KHON2) — A week-long diaper drive starts Saturday, May 1 at Windward Mall.
Diapers for babies and adults are welcome.
Get Hawaii’s latest news sent to your inbox, click here to subscribe to News 2 You, a daily newsletter.
Diapers can be dropped off at the Kūpuna Power location next to Ross Dress for Less on the first floor from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from May 1 to May 8.
The final day of the drop off is a drive-thru on May 8 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Windward Mall parking lot.
The diaper drive is coordinated by Kūpuna Power and the Aloha Diaper Bank.
According to the state, National Diaper Bank Network and Aloha United Way, 48 percent of local households are struggling to cover the basic living expenses.
The Aloha Diaper Bank has a goal to distribute essential diapers to Hawai’i families struggling with diaper needs due to low income, homelessness and emergency crisis.
(Courtesy Windward Mall and Aloha Diaper Bank)
(Courtesy Windward Mall and Aloha Diaper Bank)
(Courtesy Windward Mall and Aloha Diaper Bank)
Since 2019, the Aloha Diaper Bank gave out more than 130,000 clean diapers to over 2,500 children.
Last September, the Aloha Diaper Bank collected donations throughout Windward Mall and distributed essential diapers, Pull-Ups and baby wipes to 500 families.
Everyone with a baby in the house knows how expensive diapers are. Now a Wellesley-based nonprofit has planned a drive to provide diapers to families in need.
The drive is scheduled for Saturday, May 22, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Linden Square. It is being organized by Kids Backing Kids (https://www.kidsbackingkids.org/), launched in April 2020 by the Rodrigue family.
In their explanation of the drive, KBK said many of the young volunteers had never thought much about diapers. But when you do give it some thought, they said, you're left with a lot of questions, like: Why can't federal assistance programs be used to buy diapers? And why are diapers so expensive, costing $80 to $100 per month for just one child? And what could they do to help families who need diapers?
They started talking to nonprofits like Diaper Circle who help meet the diaper need in communities and did research that indicated the need for diapers and other baby essentials has been greater than ever during the pandemic
In response, they decided to work with community partners and "diaper-based nonprofits" to collect as many diapers as they could in a month.
They are urging people to
-Donate diapers, pull-ups, swimmers and baby wipes on their big collection day. All sizes are needed.
--Start a mini diaper drive at the office or at school and collect diapers until May 20. They can be dropped off on the Linden Square collection day, or KBC will pick them up.
--Buy diapers online and have them shipped/delivered to Kids Backing Kids, Inc., 73 Longfellow Road, Wellesley, MA 02481.
--Donate money through their website and they'll do the shopping for you.
The Diaper Drive co-sponsors are Davids & Cohen Law Firm; Donahue Maley & Burns Team at Compass; Truly's; Linden Square; and Dr. Kathleen MacNaughton
For more information, contact Grace Rodrigue, Diaper Drive Coordinator, at grace.rodrigue@kidsbackingkids.org or (781) 690-9818.
In the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, companies were focused on responding to the surge brought on by panic buying, with people stocking up on items like toilet paper, cleaning supplies, canned food and masks, said Greg Portell, a partner at Kearney, a consulting firm. The government was watching for price gouging, and customers were wary of being taken advantage of.
McQueen, 60, late last year finalized creation of the Chrysalis Community Development Agency at 110 Main St., a block from the church. Creation of Chrysalis, a separate nonprofit, allowed the efforts to qualify for more grants.
The nonprofit provides diapers and gently used clothing for newborns to 4-year-olds to needy families. It is accepting donations of diapers for the diaper bank and financial help to aid those programs. Chrysalis can be reached at 513-737-7223.
She also offered programs last summer for teens who were confused and lonely because of the pandemic.
“We’re getting ready to a program where you teach individuals how to cook healthy meals. We also have some financial literacy coming up,” she said.
McQueen’s husband, the Rev. Frederick McQueen, is senior pastor of the church, and she is co-pastor.
This media outlet in 2019 wrote about and published photographs of the church’s efforts to restore the beautiful church sanctuary that was built in 1919 that had been occupied by Bethel Community Church. Unable to use that part of its property for services, Sanctuary Covenant instead has been using an adjoining building constructed in 1974 for its services.
In the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, companies were focused on responding to the surge brought on by panic buying, with people stocking up on items like toilet paper, cleaning supplies, canned food and masks, said Greg Portell, a partner at Kearney, a consulting firm. The government was watching for price gouging, and customers were wary of being taken advantage of.
Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.
When we learn that baby is on the way, one of the earliest considerations for parents is whether to use cloth or disposable diapers. You may have heard that when it comes to diapering your baby, cloth diapers are better for the planet than any single-use product. That’s definitely true when we think about the sheer volume of disposable diapers heading for the landfill. The U.S. EPA estimates that a child diapered exclusively in disposables will send an estimated half-ton of disposable diapers to the landfill each year. That’s not all: The plastic in those diapers could take up to 500 years to degrade. That’s why more and more parents these days are looking for ways to reduce their baby’s contribution.
But the cloth versus disposable debate is about more than the landfill. There are other factors to consider. There are many situations where cloth diapers are just not practical or reasonable for everyone. We take a more detailed look at the disposable vs. cloth debate below.
To help you choose among wide variety of cloth diapering options, we’ve researched the best cloth diapers to give you and your family quality performance and peace of mind.
Final Verdict
With so many options to choose from on the market these days, it’s hard to beat the reliable versatility of the Best Overall GroVia Hybrid Cloth Diapers (view at Amazon) when paired with organic cotton and hemp inserts. Esembly Organic Cloth Diapers (view at Esembly) are also appealing because of the many environmentally-positive choices the company has made, including the use of post-consumer recycled plastic covers.
Cloth vs. Disposable Diapers
In most situations, cloth is the more sustainable diaper choice. However, they may not be the best choice for every situation. Upfront costs of $300 to $400 for each size are beyond some family budgets. Cloth diapers aren’t accepted at some child care centers and many don’t have easy or affordable access to regular laundry facilities. Tired working parents will also be the first to admit that cloth diapers require more parent time to process and launder compared to disposables. Let’s also not forget that there are many situations when you don’t want to carry a dirty diaper around, like when you’re traveling.
When comparing the impact of cloth versus disposable, we also need to consider factors like energy and water consumption needed to manufacture the diapers as well as the landfill and factory air and water emissions. According to a UK life cycle assessment, using cloth diapers can have more or less environmental impact than disposables depending on how they are laundered. Like your other clothing, if you do things like line dry them outside, wash fuller loads in newer, energy-efficient appliances at lower temperatures without harsh detergents and other chemicals, and reuse them on multiple children then cloth are better than disposable diapers.
There is no clear cut answer and the pros and cons must be weighed with each families’ unique circumstances in mind. For many, a combination of cloth and disposable may make the most sense. When choosing disposable diapers, there are a number of more eco-friendly brands on the market that will help you decrease your impact on the planet.
Understanding Cloth Diaper Styles
When trying to choose a cloth diaper, the variety of choices might feel overwhelming. You can choose from All-in-One, pocket, All-in-Two, or prefold styles. Then of course, there are also trainer and swim diapers.
All-in-One Diapers
One of the most popular choices are All-in-One diapers that are a single unit made of a combination of materials. They’re easy to manage but they don’t allow as much flexibility (like changing the absorbent layer), so be sure they are the right fit for your baby and family before buying a full set. Because you wash the whole unit each time, they can wear out as quickly as the less expensive prefolds or inner absorbent layers of other diaper systems. Worn out diapers leak more often and lose their waterproof nature over time.
Pocket Diapers
Pocket diapers are similar to All-in-One styles except the waterproof outer layer is connected to an inner “stay-dry” layer with a pocket separating them that allows you to insert a disposable (sometimes compostable) or reusable absorbent layer. The layer you choose can come from different manufacturers and depend on the situation. More absorbent inserts can be used for travel and more breathable inserts can be used for around the house for less chance of diaper rash.
Some use the term pocket and hybrid diapers interchangeably. But beware, some companies also use the term “hybrid fitted diaper” that is really closer to an All-in-One where disposable inserts are not an option. So be sure you are clear about what you’re buying before you make the purchase.
All-in-Twos
You’ll also see “All-in-Twos” where the absorbent insert and the waterproof cover are two separate pieces that need to be snapped together to create a complete cloth diaper.
Waterproof shells also come in a wide variety of materials but are often made from polyurethane laminate (PUL) or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). It’s important to verify that solvents aren’t used in the production of these materials and that any spray-on water repellants used in their production don’t contain formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen.
Prefold Diapers
Perhaps the most flexible option is to use prefold cloth diapers like our grandmothers used (simple rectangles made from a variety of fabrics) that you cover with a separate waterproof diaper shell. Each is sold separately or can be purchased from the same company. Instead of prefolds, some families choose more expensive fitted cloth diapers with leg and back elastic because they may fit better, leak less and fasten with Velcro for easier use.
FAQs
What’s the best fabric for cloth diapers?
To answer this question, we first have to consider the anatomy of a cloth diaper. Most are made with an inner absorbent layer that pulls liquids away from your baby’s skin. This layer may be of one or a combination of types of fabric, such as cotton, hemp, bamboo, or polyester. Another “stay dry” fabric separates the inner absorbent layer from your baby’s skin to prevent irritation and diaper rash. Then there is an outer waterproof layer that protects clothing and bedding. This outer layer may be made of several different fabric layers and/or be sprayed with a synthetic outer coating. The manufacture of waterproof fabric and its coating can employ the use of organic solvents and/or formaldehyde. Most cloth diapers are made from at least three or more different fabric types.
There are a great number of factors to consider when choosing the best fabric for each of the parts of a cloth diaper. We must consider the ability to absorb liquids and prevent leaks, plus breathability, cost, availability, connection to diaper rash, and the environmental impact associated with fabric production and global shipping. As you might guess, the real answer to “What is the best fabric?” is, it depends.
Each of the fabric has its own pros and cons. For example, cotton is non-synthetic, absorbent, and affordable but grows more slowly than hemp and bamboo. Hemp holds a lot of liquid but because it absorbs more slowly than cotton, you may observe more leaks when your baby is older and produces a larger volume of liquid. Bamboo grows very quickly and more sustainably, but requires chemicals to make it soft.
When making our list above and choosing from among the many fabric options for cloth diapers, we balanced a combination of these pros and cons as well as best-available technology, manufacturing processes, and environmental and human health factors.
How many cloth diapers do I need?
If you have access to laundry at least every other day, most manufacturers and parents recommend a minimum of 24 diapers so there is no chance you run out before the laundry is dry.
Newborns usually go through about twice as many diapers in a day than toddlers who have larger bladders. If you’re using a system where inserts and covers are separate, plan to use three times as many inserts as covers (a minimum of 8 covers and 24 inserts). You’ll need more than this average if you have a heavy wetter or need more time between laundry days.
What is the best way to wash cloth diapers?
Wash diapers separate from other laundry. Waiting more than a couple of days can result in mildew stains, residual smells, or more washes to get the diapers clean. Remove and flush any solids from the diaper immediately. Some parents swish the diaper in the toilet or use a sprayer attached to the toilet water supply to spray off the mess. Diapers that are just wet can get tossed into a waterproof bag, bucket, or cloth diaper pail immediately. You’ll want a system that can be opened easily with one hand or a foot pedal that also contains odor.
Many parents store dirty diapers waiting to be laundered at room temperature in a pre-soak solution. Keep in mind that a bucket of liquid can be a drowning hazard to small children so keep it properly secured or out of reach. What the solution contains depends on who you ask, but many use baking soda in a ratio of about a half a cup per gallon of water. You can add a few drops of essential oil to help with odor and/or distilled cleaning vinegar. Avoid warm or hot water that can set in stains. Pre-soaking isn’t required, but without it, you are more likely to end up with permanent stains and stronger odors.
When you’re ready to wash, drain the pre-soak liquid by hand or use the rinse cycle of your washer. Then use an eco-friendly detergent and hot water for the wash cycle. If your machine is capable, add a cup of vinegar to your rinse cycle using the fabric softener dispenser. This will help remove any remaining residues from the fabric.
Avoid the use of fabric softener because many are full of chemicals and they’re designed to stick to fabric, resulting in a less absorbent surface.
You might see recommendations to use old-fashioned borax and bleach as part of your wash cycle. However, borax has been banned in the European Union based on animal studies that show it has reproductive health consequences in high concentrations. Chlorine bleach is toxic to both you and the environment. You can effectively skip the borax by using baking soda to boost the effectiveness of your detergent in the wash cycle. Avoid bleach by adding a quarter cup of vinegar, lemon juice or peroxide (choose one, do not combine them) to the pre-soak step for whitening and brightening then try vinegar in the rinse cycle to strip away remaining residues.
When it comes to drying diapers, line-dry in the sun whenever possible. Sunshine lightens stains, kills germs and helps eliminate odors naturally while also reducing your energy use.
When you use a dryer, use the heat setting recommended by the manufacturer to avoid heat damage and shrinkage. Many covers aren’t meant to be dried on high heat. Unless otherwise noted, use the hottest available temperature in combination with the “more dry” setting to ensure that any bacteria that survived the wash cycle won’t make it out of the dryer. But skip the dryer sheet which includes chemicals that reduce absorbency and might irritate your baby’s skin.
What’s the best detergent for cloth diapers?
There are many eco-conscious laundry detergents on the market, with several that have been designed specifically for cloth diapers. You want to look for something that has simple, natural ingredients that wash out cleanly to protect your baby’s delicate skin. Many parents like Rockin’ Green Dirty Diaper Detergent (view on Amazon) that can be used in the pre-soak and in place of other detergents because it’s simple, vegan, and removes diaper stains and odors better than many other eco-friendly detergents.
Why Trust Treehugger?
Lorraine Wilde changed so many of her twins’ diapers that she could do a double change in the dark by the time they grew out of them. She has only the highest of standards for what goes on her children’s skin. Lorraine also holds a Master’s degree in environmental science and is a firm believer that consumers can make healthy, informed and environmentally-conscious choices to protect their families and our planet.
Washington state lawmakers didn't include a stipend for low-income parents to buy diapers in the new, two-year budget they approved over the weekend.
But the Legislature did include more than $50 million to boost cash assistance for families in need, plus $5 million for nonprofits that distribute donated diapers, funding the so-called "diaper banks" directly for the first time.
Assuming Gov. Jay Inslee signs off, that means many low-income households will get more help with diapers and other basics, said Liz Olson, senior policy analyst at the Washington State Budget and Policy Center, a left-leaning think tank.
"We're really celebrating," Olson said. "This is a dramatically different approach than the Legislature took during the last recession."
Households that receive cash through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, also known as welfare, will see their payments rise 15%. The current maximum monthly payment for a family of three will increase from $569 to $654.
That may not sound like much, but it's the largest bump in the program's history in Washington, Olson said. The payments have barely changed over decades, with cuts by lawmakers during the Great Recession only recently restored, she said. The increase will cost about $52 million over two years.
There were about 30,000 families on TANF and state family assistance in February; only very low-income households with children qualify. Even with the 15% lift, the payments aren't enough, Olson said, adding, "This is just a start."
TANF has a 60-month lifetime limit, but lawmakers passed bills this session designed to keep struggling households enrolled during the current economic crunch and downturns to come.
A Senate bill that would have exempted diapers from the sales tax had some Republican support but didn't advance. Paul Guppy, vice president at the Washington Policy Center, a right-leaning think tank, said that tax-break approach would have been a better step. "If majority lawmakers say they care about the cost of diapers," they shouldn't be passing payroll- and gas-tax hikes "that will hit low-income people the hardest," Guppy said.
The idea for a diaper stipend, which was included in the House's budget proposal and which would have provided an extra $80 each month in TANF cash to households with children under three, "hit a nerve" with many Washington residents, said Rep. Tana Senn, who championed the concept.
Babies are supposed to be changed eight to 10 times each day, and disposable diapers can cost more than $1,000 over a year. That can sometimes lead parents to let bills go unpaid or change their babies less often. The stipend could have been used for diapers and other items.
Several constituents contacted Senn, D-Mercer Island, to share their stories about diaper desperation, she said. Some others suggested families use cloth diapers to save money. That's not always a great option for busy parents without in-home washing machines, Senn said. Some laundromats ban diapers and some child care centers accept only disposables, advocates have pointed out.
"Parents are doing their best to figure things out and make it work," and they should have choices, Olson said.
There was strong support for the diaper stipend among Democrats, but the benefit's price tag was initially underestimated and the state agency responsible said implementation could take up to two years, said Rep. Tim Ormsby, a budget negotiator.
Lawmakers decided that funding diaper banks would get help to more families quickly and easily, said Ormsby, D-Spokane. "We did what we thought was the best we could do," he said.
The state has never before funded diaper banks, said Sarah Cody Roth, executive director at White Center-based WestSide Baby. The money for diaper banks will cover about 29 million diapers, she said.
"Neither option was bad," said Sen. Joe Ngyuen, who pushed for the TANF increase. The diaper stipend would have provided families with flexible cash, while diaper banks can serve households on and off TANF, he noted.
Ella Baldwin knows a thing or two about diapering. The 73-year-old resident of Aurora has had four children, nine grandchildren and is expecting a ninth great grandchild this year.
She's also the full-time caregiver for one of those great grandchildren, Penelope, who's two-and-a-half years old.
Penelope has hip dysplasia and was born without a left hip socket. She underwent major surgery and was in a body cast for three months.
“So that meant two diapers, not just one diaper. Every time you changed,” said Baldwin. One diaper went inside the cast and another other went on the outside.
Penelope is out of her cast now and doing well, but diapers are still a daily need and the costs add up quickly. Diapers aren't covered or subsidized by any federal or state program. They're considered a disallowed purchase by the federal food stamps program, along with cigarettes, alcohol and pet food. And they aren’t covered by the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program either, though advocates have tried to change that.
Baldwin and her great-granddaughter survive on less than $1,000 a month, cobbled together through social security payments and a small kinship provider stipend. So, to help bridge the gap in her budget, Baldwin has sought relief at local diaper banks.
There are seven diaper banks in Colorado that belong to the National Diaper Bank Network. These nonprofits get diapers through bulk discount purchases and donations. Then they distribute the products to partner organizations like food banks who give them to people in need.
If it wasn’t for that assistance, Baldwin said, “we wouldn't have been able to make it.” And she knows she’s not the only one.
“I've been hearing horror stories,” she said, “of people using plastic bags and paper towels and toilet paper and stuff because they have nothing else.”
Addressing a 'hidden need' made worse by the pandemic at the Capitol
Some Colorado lawmakers call diapers a “hidden need,” and it's one that many Coloradans have been feeling acutely during the pandemic.
State Sen. Brittany Pettersen, a Democrat representing Jefferson County, is sponsoring a bill to address the need for diapers. It would provide extra funding to the Department of Health and Human Services intended to support diaper banks throughout the state.
Pettersen is a new mother herself with a 15-month-old child. Her three co-sponsors in the legislature are also all mothers of young children. Diaper need is “unnecessary suffering,” Pettersen said, “and it's something very simple that we can fix.”
The legislation currently lacks bipartisan support. Critics have focused on the cost — $4 million in total over the span of two years.
“This is the bare minimum that we need to be doing right now to help families who are desperate for support to get through this pandemic,” Pettersen said.
She also pointed out that most child care centers require families to supply diapers for their kids. No diapers mean no child care.
“So this is a key piece in making sure that we're helping women get back in the workforce,” Pettersen said.
Diapers are expensive, and reusable cloth diapers have their own barriers
Jan Touslee, founder of The Nappie Project — a diaper bank based in the Fort Collins area — agrees. She has seen the growing impacts of diaper need since well before the pandemic began. According to The Nappie Project, one in three families experiences diaper need in the U.S.
Touslee first learned about the problem of diaper need while volunteering at a food bank in Larimer County in 2014. Someone had come in with a donation of diapers but nobody seemed to know exactly what to do with them. So she took them home, re-packaged them, and brought them back to distribute.
She said the response was huge, so she started buying diapers on her own, bundling them into packages of 12, which is the average daily need for an infant, and taking them to the food bank on her volunteer days.
Eventually, she founded her own nonprofit diaper bank to accommodate the growing need.
Courtesy of Sarah Ballard-RamirezVolunteers wrapping diapers at a diaper bank for The Nappie Project.
Diapers can cost anywhere from 29 to 32 cents a diaper in bulk packages, Touslee said.
“But our families who may only be able to buy one of those little packs at a convenience store, oftentimes end up paying almost 40 cents,” she said.
That means diapers can cost up to 14 percent of a family’s monthly income.
Touslee said a common question she hears is why parents don’t just switch to reusable cloth diapers. There are a few reasons, she said. For one, cloth diapers are a more expensive investment up front. Secondly, she said “many of our families don't have access to laundry facilities. A laundromat may not allow them to wash cloth diapers.” And many child care providers won’t take children in cloth diapers.
Delaying diaper changes can cause health issues and stress
Diaper need often remains hidden because of shame, Touslee said.
“It makes them feel like a bad parent,” she said.
A Feeding America report from 2013 found that 32 percent of families struggling with diaper shortage said they reused diapers and 48 percent said they delayed changing a diaper.
Touslee said this can put a child at risk of developing a urinary tract infection or severe diaper rash. And that, in turn, can increase the need for medical care or calls to an emergency room, which often those families can't afford.
Diaper need can also lead to child abuse, Touslee said.
“When a baby has a severe diaper rash or a urinary tract infection, they cry and cry. A very stressed, tired parent may be at their limit and pick up that baby and shake it,” she said. “So actually having an adequate supply of diapers is incredibly important to the emotional and the physical health of a family.”
The Nappie Project has about 5,000 diapers to distribute every week.
“And that supply is gone probably by mid-week,” Touslee said. “We’re still so far from meeting the need.”
Diapers are about to get even more expensive, and parents are worried.
Prices of furniture, household necessities, electronics, and nearly all other consumer goods are set to rise this year in a "perfect storm" of shipping delays, supply chain disruptions, and changes to demand because of the pandemic.
In an April earnings call, Proctor & Gamble said that it has already started raising prices of some household goods, including diapers. Further price increases will be added in September in the "mid-to-high single-digit percentages," the company said.
"This is one of the bigger increases in commodity costs that we've seen over the period of time that I've been involved with this, which is a fairly long period of time" Proctor & Gamble operating chief Jon Moeller said of his 33-year career.
Diaper costs rose 8.7% over the 12-month period ending on April 10, CNN reported. Further increases are likely to put additional financial pressure on low-income families. One in three US families had difficulty affording diapers before the pandemic, according to the National Diaper Bank Network. In 2020, the organization distributed 100 million diapers, a 67% increase over the previous year. Federal assistance programs like SNAP and WIC cannot be used for diapers, furthering the need.
Extreme congestion at ports is partially to blame for the increase in diaper prices. Ships carrying millions of dollars of imports are stuck waiting weeks to unload, leading to shortages and long waits. A global shipping container shortage is also making the process more expensive as container costs have tripled over the past year.
Diapers are far from the only products affected as consumers continue to spend money on goods over services. Bikes, cars, meat, cheese, and even ketchup are all becoming more expensive. Goldman Sachs analysts predict that increased prices will continue through at least the end of 2021 as the supply chain continues to grapple with disruptions and unpredictable demand.
LANCASTER - Bottoms Up Diaper Drive founders Jo and Tim Welsh celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in 2018. But the community received the presents.
"We started just kind of on a whim," she said. "We were celebrating our 40th anniversary and Tim said, 'Why don't we just ask people to give us boxes of diapers instead of gifts? Then we'll find some people to give them away to.' Because of his work in working with women's ministry he knew the need for diapers."
They got about 80 boxes of disposable diapers then and haven't stopped giving them out since. The Welshes now give out about 60,000 diapers per month. They also give out diaper wipes.
"It started out at 3,000 and we thought that was big," Jo Welsh said of the diapers. "Then we got to 5,000 and 15,000 and we thought that was big."
She said one in three families struggle to buy diapers.
"It's just such basic need," Jo Welsh said. "I hear stories from moms that are just so grateful that the pantry they go to has the sizes they need. Some moms are in recovery and need diapers just to see their kids for a day. It's just such a basic need and most people don't think about it."
Bottoms Up Diaper Drive is a non-profit agency that collects donated diapers to give away to those in need. It works through food pantries, child-care centers, domestic violence shelters and pregnancy centers. Those agencies then give the diapers to those they serve.
Though not affiliated with the Catholic Church, she said she serves the needy along the same geographic lines as the Diocese of Columbus. That means the agency expands out of central Ohio all the way down to Portsmouth in Scioto County.
The diapers are either physically donated or people donate money for the Welshes to buy them.
"We have a bit of purchasing power because we buy them by the truckload," Jo Welsh said. "So we can get them a little bit better. But some folks just like buying diapers and drop them off on my front porch. People just love the idea that they're helping babies."
The Welshes deliver some diapers themselves, but also rely on volunteers throughout central and southern Ohio to deliver them. While they do get some grants, they are privately funded and are not affiliated with any government agency.
For now, the Welshes are getting ready for the World's Largest Diaper Drive Saturday with the Lancaster-Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce's leadership program. They want to collect 250,000 diapers in central Ohio
Away from work, Jo Welsh enjoys reading and yardwork. She also likes to hike and is planning on a two-day hiking trip out west this summer with her sister.
"You'll see me walking around town with my backpack on because I have to get conditioned for it," Jo Welsh said.
She is the mother of five grown children and is awaiting her fourth grandchild in June.
Visit www.bottomsup.life and https://ift.tt/3dRVocn for more information about both Bottoms Up and the diaper drive or call Jo Welsh at 740-808-6131.
Diapers are a pricey, essential item for parents. Now, they're getting even more expensive, hurting low-income families already struggling with the pandemic's economic woes.Disposable diaper prices rose 8.7% during the year ending April 10, according to the latest numbers from NielsenIQ, which tracks point of sale data from retailers. Diaper makers recently said they are planning additional price increases, which may further stretch low-income families' budgets if stores choose to pass on the hikes.Kimberly-Clark, the maker of Huggies and Pull-Ups, will increase prices on these products by mid-to-high single-digit percentages in June, while Procter & Gamble— which manufactures Pampers, Luvs and All Good diapers — will raise prices on such brands in the mid-to-high single digit percentage range in mid-September.Diapers were already a major cost burden for families.It costs around $80 a month to provide diapers for one child, and one in three American families struggled to afford diapers even before the pandemic, according to Joanne Goldblum, chief executive officer of the National Diaper Bank Network.Demand for diaper banks has surged during the pandemic. The nonprofit group, which has a nationwide network of over 200 diaper banks, reported an 86% increase on average in the number of diapers distributed to children and families during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic figures.Federal food assistance programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which provides aid to low-income women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have young children, cannot be used to purchase diapers. Thirty-six states charge sales tax on diapers, according to the group. The tax can range from 2.5% in Virginia to 7% in Indiana, Mississippi and Tennessee."It's going to be harder. No doubt," Goldblum said of low-income families' ability to afford diapers. "Anytime there's an increase in the cost of basic necessities, it impacts people living in poverty at a more considerable rate."Assuming the average monthly diaper bill is $80, diapers take up almost 8% of a full-time federal minimum wage salary of $7.25 an hour after taxes, according to Jennifer Randles, an associate professor of sociology at California State University, who studies diaper needs among families.Randles said higher prices on diapers disproportionally impact women. "Higher prices hit women harder because they're more likely to be solo parents, they tend to make lower wages, and they're more likely to lose or cut back on work hours for childcare needs."There were 9.5 million single-parent households in the United States in 2020, according to the Census Bureau, and single-mother led households made up more than 80% of such households.The reason behind diaper price hikesSo why are prices rising? It's simple: producers want to offset higher input and raw material costs so their margins don't get squeezed.Commodity prices have been rising, thanks to high demand for products, supply-chain disruptions and surging shipping costs. All these price hikes are now coming home to roost — in consumers' wallets.Rising prices for diapers come as millions of U.S. families grapple with the economic effects of the pandemic.Nearly 10% of U.S. families — 8.1 million to be exact — included at least one unemployed family member last year. That was double the number from 2019, when 4.9% of families confronted unemployment.While many people have been able to find employment again as the economy began to reopen, the extreme joblessness of the last year has put a serious dent into family finances. For some, that made it harder to afford essentials and other household needs.Some parents also had to drop out of the workforce in the pandemic to care for their children.As many schools shifted to remote learning to keep children safe during the height of the pandemic, many parents — often mothers — were forced to leave the labor force in order to support younger family members' learning.
Diapers are a pricey, essential item for parents. Now, they're getting even more expensive, hurting low-income families already struggling with the pandemic's economic woes.
Disposable diaper prices rose 8.7% during the year ending April 10, according to the latest numbers from NielsenIQ, which tracks point of sale data from retailers. Diaper makers recently said they are planning additional price increases, which may further stretch low-income families' budgets if stores choose to pass on the hikes.
Advertisement
Kimberly-Clark, the maker of Huggies and Pull-Ups, will increase prices on these products by mid-to-high single-digit percentages in June, while Procter & Gamble— which manufactures Pampers, Luvs and All Good diapers — will raise prices on such brands in the mid-to-high single digit percentage range in mid-September.
Diapers were already a major cost burden for families.
It costs around $80 a month to provide diapers for one child, and one in three American families struggled to afford diapers even before the pandemic, according to Joanne Goldblum, chief executive officer of the National Diaper Bank Network.
Demand for diaper banks has surged during the pandemic. The nonprofit group, which has a nationwide network of over 200 diaper banks, reported an 86% increase on average in the number of diapers distributed to children and families during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic figures.
Federal food assistance programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which provides aid to low-income women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have young children, cannot be used to purchase diapers. Thirty-six states charge sales tax on diapers, according to the group. The tax can range from 2.5% in Virginia to 7% in Indiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.
"It's going to be harder. No doubt," Goldblum said of low-income families' ability to afford diapers. "Anytime there's an increase in the cost of basic necessities, it impacts people living in poverty at a more considerable rate."
Assuming the average monthly diaper bill is $80, diapers take up almost 8% of a full-time federal minimum wage salary of $7.25 an hour after taxes, according to Jennifer Randles, an associate professor of sociology at California State University, who studies diaper needs among families.
Randles said higher prices on diapers disproportionally impact women. "Higher prices [on diapers] hit women harder because they're more likely to be solo parents, they tend to make lower wages, and they're more likely to lose or cut back on work hours for childcare needs."
There were 9.5 million single-parent households in the United States in 2020, according to the Census Bureau, and single-mother led households made up more than 80% of such households.
The reason behind diaper price hikes
So why are prices rising? It's simple: producers want to offset higher input and raw material costs so their margins don't get squeezed.
Commodity prices have been rising, thanks to high demand for products, supply-chain disruptions and surging shipping costs. All these price hikes are now coming home to roost — in consumers' wallets.
Rising prices for diapers come as millions of U.S. families grapple with the economic effects of the pandemic.
Nearly 10% of U.S. families — 8.1 million to be exact — included at least one unemployed family member last year. That was double the number from 2019, when 4.9% of families confronted unemployment.
While many people have been able to find employment again as the economy began to reopen, the extreme joblessness of the last year has put a serious dent into family finances. For some, that made it harder to afford essentials and other household needs.
Some parents also had to drop out of the workforce in the pandemic to care for their children.
As many schools shifted to remote learning to keep children safe during the height of the pandemic, many parents — often mothers — were forced to leave the labor force in order to support younger family members' learning.
The rising cost of diapers has affected new parents, especially those in need. News 9 spoke with Families in Transition to see how Granite State families have been impacted.Disposable diapers are already considered a costly monthly investment for many families, and families are dealing with rising costs. The price of disposable diapers rose nearly 9% over the past year and is still rising.Diaper producers like Kimberly-Clark, which makes Huggies ad Pull-Ups, are planning to increase prices up to 10% in June. Procter and Gamble, which makes Pampers and Luvs, could do the same by mid-September. That's a significant cost increase for families in need.Prices are likely rising to offset the costs of making the diapers, including raw materials. Combined with a high demand, supply chain disruptions and increased shipping rates, the trickle-down effect is set to hit consumers. “Diapers are always something that are on our high-needs list and where we’re looking for donations for our program participants,” said Kyle Chumas from Families in Transition.Families in Transition is a program in New Hampshire that aids families experiencing homelessness and those in emergency or recovery situations. They said they have seen firsthand how price hikes in essential goods can have a disproportionate impact on those in need.“When you’re low income and when you only have so many resources, any burden like that is absolutely going to have an impact,” Chumas said.Families in Transition does collect diaper donations at their pantry, but it also refers out to Amoskeag Health.“We’re really fortunate to have a lot of wonderful donations of diapers, and we also make a lot of referrals to Amoskeag Health for any families we work with or others who are low income in the community,” Chumas said.>> MORE FROM WMUR: Granite United Way relaunches pandemic relief fund
MANCHESTER, N.H. —
The rising cost of diapers has affected new parents, especially those in need. News 9 spoke with Families in Transition to see how Granite State families have been impacted.
Disposable diapers are already considered a costly monthly investment for many families, and families are dealing with rising costs. The price of disposable diapers rose nearly 9% over the past year and is still rising.
Advertisement
Diaper producers like Kimberly-Clark, which makes Huggies ad Pull-Ups, are planning to increase prices up to 10% in June. Procter and Gamble, which makes Pampers and Luvs, could do the same by mid-September. That's a significant cost increase for families in need.
Prices are likely rising to offset the costs of making the diapers, including raw materials. Combined with a high demand, supply chain disruptions and increased shipping rates, the trickle-down effect is set to hit consumers.
“Diapers are always something that are on our high-needs list and where we’re looking for donations for our program participants,” said Kyle Chumas from Families in Transition.
Families in Transition is a program in New Hampshire that aids families experiencing homelessness and those in emergency or recovery situations. They said they have seen firsthand how price hikes in essential goods can have a disproportionate impact on those in need.
“When you’re low income and when you only have so many resources, any burden like that is absolutely going to have an impact,” Chumas said.
Families in Transition does collect diaper donations at their pantry, but it also refers out to Amoskeag Health.
“We’re really fortunate to have a lot of wonderful donations of diapers, and we also make a lot of referrals to Amoskeag Health for any families we work with or others who are low income in the community,” Chumas said.
>> MORE FROM WMUR: Granite United Way relaunches pandemic relief fund
Diapers are a pricey, essential item for parents. Now, they're getting even more expensive, hurting low-income families already struggling with the pandemic's economic woes.Disposable diaper prices rose 8.7% during the year ending April 10, according to the latest numbers from NielsenIQ, which tracks point of sale data from retailers. Diaper makers recently said they are planning additional price increases, which may further stretch low-income families' budgets if stores choose to pass on the hikes.Kimberly-Clark, the maker of Huggies and Pull-Ups, will increase prices on these products by mid-to-high single-digit percentages in June, while Procter & Gamble— which manufactures Pampers, Luvs and All Good diapers — will raise prices on such brands in the mid-to-high single digit percentage range in mid-September.Diapers were already a major cost burden for families.It costs around $80 a month to provide diapers for one child, and one in three American families struggled to afford diapers even before the pandemic, according to Joanne Goldblum, chief executive officer of the National Diaper Bank Network.Demand for diaper banks has surged during the pandemic. The nonprofit group, which has a nationwide network of over 200 diaper banks, reported an 86% increase on average in the number of diapers distributed to children and families during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic figures.Federal food assistance programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which provides aid to low-income women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have young children, cannot be used to purchase diapers. Thirty-six states charge sales tax on diapers, according to the group. The tax can range from 2.5% in Virginia to 7% in Indiana, Mississippi and Tennessee."It's going to be harder. No doubt," Goldblum said of low-income families' ability to afford diapers. "Anytime there's an increase in the cost of basic necessities, it impacts people living in poverty at a more considerable rate."Assuming the average monthly diaper bill is $80, diapers take up almost 8% of a full-time federal minimum wage salary of $7.25 an hour after taxes, according to Jennifer Randles, an associate professor of sociology at California State University, who studies diaper needs among families.Randles said higher prices on diapers disproportionally impact women. "Higher prices hit women harder because they're more likely to be solo parents, they tend to make lower wages, and they're more likely to lose or cut back on work hours for childcare needs."There were 9.5 million single-parent households in the United States in 2020, according to the Census Bureau, and single-mother led households made up more than 80% of such households.The reason behind diaper price hikesSo why are prices rising? It's simple: producers want to offset higher input and raw material costs so their margins don't get squeezed.Commodity prices have been rising, thanks to high demand for products, supply-chain disruptions and surging shipping costs. All these price hikes are now coming home to roost — in consumers' wallets.Rising prices for diapers come as millions of U.S. families grapple with the economic effects of the pandemic.Nearly 10% of U.S. families — 8.1 million to be exact — included at least one unemployed family member last year. That was double the number from 2019, when 4.9% of families confronted unemployment.While many people have been able to find employment again as the economy began to reopen, the extreme joblessness of the last year has put a serious dent into family finances. For some, that made it harder to afford essentials and other household needs.Some parents also had to drop out of the workforce in the pandemic to care for their children.As many schools shifted to remote learning to keep children safe during the height of the pandemic, many parents — often mothers — were forced to leave the labor force in order to support younger family members' learning.
Diapers are a pricey, essential item for parents. Now, they're getting even more expensive, hurting low-income families already struggling with the pandemic's economic woes.
Disposable diaper prices rose 8.7% during the year ending April 10, according to the latest numbers from NielsenIQ, which tracks point of sale data from retailers. Diaper makers recently said they are planning additional price increases, which may further stretch low-income families' budgets if stores choose to pass on the hikes.
Advertisement
Kimberly-Clark, the maker of Huggies and Pull-Ups, will increase prices on these products by mid-to-high single-digit percentages in June, while Procter & Gamble— which manufactures Pampers, Luvs and All Good diapers — will raise prices on such brands in the mid-to-high single digit percentage range in mid-September.
Diapers were already a major cost burden for families.
It costs around $80 a month to provide diapers for one child, and one in three American families struggled to afford diapers even before the pandemic, according to Joanne Goldblum, chief executive officer of the National Diaper Bank Network.
Demand for diaper banks has surged during the pandemic. The nonprofit group, which has a nationwide network of over 200 diaper banks, reported an 86% increase on average in the number of diapers distributed to children and families during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic figures.
Federal food assistance programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which provides aid to low-income women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have young children, cannot be used to purchase diapers. Thirty-six states charge sales tax on diapers, according to the group. The tax can range from 2.5% in Virginia to 7% in Indiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.
"It's going to be harder. No doubt," Goldblum said of low-income families' ability to afford diapers. "Anytime there's an increase in the cost of basic necessities, it impacts people living in poverty at a more considerable rate."
Assuming the average monthly diaper bill is $80, diapers take up almost 8% of a full-time federal minimum wage salary of $7.25 an hour after taxes, according to Jennifer Randles, an associate professor of sociology at California State University, who studies diaper needs among families.
Randles said higher prices on diapers disproportionally impact women. "Higher prices [on diapers] hit women harder because they're more likely to be solo parents, they tend to make lower wages, and they're more likely to lose or cut back on work hours for childcare needs."
There were 9.5 million single-parent households in the United States in 2020, according to the Census Bureau, and single-mother led households made up more than 80% of such households.
The reason behind diaper price hikes
So why are prices rising? It's simple: producers want to offset higher input and raw material costs so their margins don't get squeezed.
Commodity prices have been rising, thanks to high demand for products, supply-chain disruptions and surging shipping costs. All these price hikes are now coming home to roost — in consumers' wallets.
Rising prices for diapers come as millions of U.S. families grapple with the economic effects of the pandemic.
Nearly 10% of U.S. families — 8.1 million to be exact — included at least one unemployed family member last year. That was double the number from 2019, when 4.9% of families confronted unemployment.
While many people have been able to find employment again as the economy began to reopen, the extreme joblessness of the last year has put a serious dent into family finances. For some, that made it harder to afford essentials and other household needs.
Some parents also had to drop out of the workforce in the pandemic to care for their children.
As many schools shifted to remote learning to keep children safe during the height of the pandemic, many parents — often mothers — were forced to leave the labor force in order to support younger family members' learning.
AUSTIN — Hundreds of people turned out Saturday to pick up free baby formula, diapers and other supplies at an Austin church event that had to be postponed earlier this month after a small group of people made off with supplies meant for hundreds.
Pastor Michael Wright of Christ Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, 854 N. Central Ave., said he was “devastated” April 2 after 12-15 people took advantage of an employee working alone and took all the items set aside for the church’s Baby Bank event that helps people in need.
On April 3, the date the event was originally scheduled to be held, Wright had to explain to people showing up what happened and that the event was postponed. But donors quickly stepped up to help after a Block Club Chicago story shed light on what happened.
Dozens from the Austin neighborhood and from the suburbs donated supplies. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Starck Real Estate in Arlington Heights, for example, donated some 5,000 diapers and other baby items. Robert Magiet and members of West Town Feeds showed up in four SUVs filled with more than $3,000 worth of supplies.
On Saturday, even more donated, including a 50-car caravan of Delta Sigma Theta Chicago alumnae from across the city who brought more than 100 boxes of supplies.
And Magiet donated again — this time bringing food for 400 people.
Also on hand was Michael “Chef Mike” Airhart, founder and CEO of Taste For The Homeless, who cooked burgers and hotdogs for the crowd.
To hear more about “Chef Mike,” listen to Block Club’s “It’s All Good” podcast:
Local DJ Tony Harris, who lives a half-block from the church, spun records on the parkway on Iowa Street, which Chicago Police closed to allow for a block-party-like atmosphere.
Magiet has organized multiple, large-scale efforts to help people in need over the past year.
So, seeing the several hundred people lined up along Central Avenue Saturday, Magiet said he was not surprised.
“I’m actually not. I’ve seen the need this year, especially because of the pandemic,” Magiet said.
Asked if he might run out of food before the end of the event, he said that could be a positive.
“It would mean we fed 400 and even more got baby supplies,” Magiet said.
For mothers like Shay Heath, a 23-year-old Austin resident with a 3-year-old and a 10-month-old, the event was a blessing. “My kids’ dad is deceased so this really comes in handy,” Heath said.
Ericson Vega, 28, of Austin, who was holding his 4-month-old daughter while waiting in line, agreed with Heath. “It helps a lot, especially during Covid when many can’t get out. This really shows we aren’t alone, Vega said.
For Celia Camacho, a 32-year-old Logan Square teacher with three kids, the event was especially helpful.
“I don’t qualify for LINK because I work but I’m going through a divorce and this is a really tough time for me. This is wonderful,” Camacho said.
Wright said people in line had to enter the lobby of the church and register and then were able to go down a line of tables stocked with supplies and could take what they needed. Wright said people are asked for their contact information so that church volunteers can follow up after the event to see what other needs they may have.
“This is amazing,” Wright said, scanning the line that stretched for more than a block down Central Ave.
“Our goal was to help 1,000, but we may exceed it. Wow.”
Subscribe to Block Club Chicago, an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods.
/GettyImages-155388798-0216fc3cc8e74bab8a90ca743ccf7e57.jpg)
