Filling the gap won’t solve this problem.
47% of families experience diaper need, yet diapers cannot be purchased with SNAP or WIC benefits. Diaper need is a public health crisis for babies and a mental health issue for their parents and caregivers.
Diaper banks and other nonprofits work tirelessly to try and meet the needs of families. Stretched donation dollars go between operations and other necessities and are often in competition with one another to strengthen the size of their donor base. Their goal: to secure enough supplies to meet needs of the families they serve.
Diaper need is a problem that stretches beyond the capacity of diaper banks. While diaper banks are meeting critical need at this time, they are ultimately structured to perpetuate the cycle- not end it. We need to break the mold and insist on something radical: that diapers should be as easily accessible and affordable as toilet paper in public restrooms.