States & Communities Throughout The U.S. Recognize Diaper Need Awareness Week September 8 - 14, 2014

NEW HAVEN, Conn., Aug. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "I'm really in need of diapers for my five-month-old…I am on food stamps and can't afford them right now," is a difficult, yet all too common parental admission that typifies diaper need, a hidden consequence of poverty. 

Simply put, diaper need is the lack of a sufficient supply of diapers to keep a baby clean, dry and healthy.   

Diaper Need Awareness Week, scheduled for September 8 – 14, 2014, draws attention to the issue and prompts individuals, organizations, communities, and elected officials to take action and help get diapers to babies who need them.  

Recognition of diaper need and its impact on babies is a first step. To date, 14 state governors and legislatures—including Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin—have issued official proclamations in support of Diaper Need Awareness Week, as have mayors of cities ranging from Philadelphia to Kansas City, and Orlando to Redmond, among others. Additional proclamations are expected in the coming weeks.

One in three American families struggle with diaper need, and government assistance programs—including food stamps and WIC—provide no funding for diapers, a basic necessity for babies.  There are currently 5.6 million infants and toddlers living in low-income families, many of which face a daily struggle to secure a necessary supply of diapers.

Diaper Need Awareness Week is a signature initiative of the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) and its 200-plus member diaper banks.  The week features an array of activities including diaper drives, panel discussions on child poverty, and social media efforts using the hashtag #DiaperNeed. Updates on proclamations and local diaper bank activities can be found online at DiaperNeed.org.

"Millions of families struggle every day to provide an adequate supply of diapers for their children, and that is unacceptable," said Joanne Goldblum, founder and executive director of the National Diaper Bank Network.

Diaper banks help address diaper need by collecting, storing and distributing free diapers to families experiencing financial hardship. While they range in size and scope, diaper banks obtain diapers through local diaper drives, in-kind donations by manufacturers and retailers, and by purchasing diapers directly with donated funds. Diaper banks distribute disposable and/or cloth diapers.

The National Diaper Bank Network supports diaper banks by raising awareness of diaper need, providing technical assistance to help existing and new diaper banks, and distributing diapers and funding to diaper banks.  Since its founding in 2011, NDBN in conjunction with its founding sponsor Huggies® has distributed nearly 60 million diapers to families in need via its network of diaper banks and community partners. 

Getting Involved
The general public can get involved in Diaper Need Awareness Week in the following ways: 

• Donate to a Diaper Bank
  As nonprofit organizations, diaper banks rely on the generosity of the community for financial support and diaper donations.  A directory of local diaper banks is maintained by the National Diaper Bank Network on its website www.nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org.
• Use #DiaperNeed in Social Media
  Fans of social media—Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and other social platforms—can share experiences and raise online awareness of diaper need by using the hashtag #DiaperNeed.  Follow the National Diaper Bank Network on Twitter (@DiaperNetwork) and Facebook (facebook.com/nationaldiaperbanknetwork).
• Host a Diaper Drive
  Volunteers can make an impact in communities by holding a diaper drive to benefit a local diaper bank or agency. The DiaperNeed.org website features a guide on how to hold a diaper drive, located under the "Take Action" button.
• Host a Virtual Diaper Drive
  A virtual diaper drive allows supporters of National Diaper Bank Network to activate their social network via a personalized crowd funding site such as CrowdRise and generate funds that help support the mission of diaper banks.  

About the National Diaper Bank Network: The National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) is a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that every child in the U.S. has enough diapers to be clean, dry & healthy. Founded in 2011, the network raises awareness of diaper need (#DiaperNeed) and supports the development and expansion of diaper banks in communities throughout the country. Its active membership includes more than 200 diaper banks, diaper closets and food banks located in 44 states and the District of Columbia. More information on NDBN and diaper need is available at www.nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org, and on Twitter (@DiaperNetwork) and Facebook (facebook.com/NationalDiaperBankNetwork).

Media Contact:
Troy Moore
[email protected]
203.821.7348

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SOURCE National Diaper Bank Network