One of the ways we're working to end diaper need is through the diaper hubs project. Encouraged by the success of community fridges and similar projects during the pandemic, we imagined the possibility of making diapers freely and publicly accessible to all in community spaces. In May 2021, District 39 voters in Brooklyn used their voice on their participatory budgeting ballots in agreement, selecting the hub pilot project. Unfortunately, the promised grant money never came through, but we kept our pledge to New York and approached three existing community organizations whose leaders shared our faith in mutual aid and made arrangements to host our 'diaper hubs' across Brooklyn.
That was three years ago. Using funds raised through donations and from our foundation we've kept the hubs stocked with diapers, but also encourage our neighbors to, in the spirit of mutual aid, fill them with any extra diapers they may have leftover after a child grows out of a size or is potty-trained. And recently we installed our first upgraded hubs at Camp Friendship in Brooklyn! By sourcing former newspaper bins—with added graphics in two languages installed by our own team—we're doing our best for both the environment and our neighbors.
We hope that the community diaper hubs stand as a visual reminder of what mutual aid can achieve, a symbol of hope, and a space where parents in need can always receive hygiene supplies.