Changing Diapers, Changing Lives

If you've had a child, you know how important (and expensive) diapers are. Babies need 10+ diapers a day, which cost $100+ each month. Diapers are required for daycare but aren't covered by WIC assistance, so underprivileged mothers in our community are often at a loss. "Do I feed my family or buy clean diapers?"

There's no safe way to cut back on diapers without introducing harmful side effects like rashes and infection. There's also maternal depression to consider. The stress on a mother who can't provide affects her child's development. Mothers can't work to afford diapers if they don't have diapers to send their children to daycare, so the cycle of poverty continues.

Seeing the great need, our teammate Lauren Newman helped launch the Junior League of Charleston's Diaper Bank in 2017. Volunteers collect diapers, host drives, bundle & label donations, and distribute them to mothers in need through community partners.

Until reform is introduced to have diapers and feminine hygiene products included in WIC assistance, educating mothers on healthy diaper use and distributing donations is the best we can do. Our team recently had a "bundling" session where we prepped 1,575 diapers for distribution in one hour. We worked up a sweat helping fellow Lowcountry mamas have what their babies need!