A partnership between United Way of Hunterdon County and NORWESCAP Food Bank to raise awareness about diaper need and to help address that need in Hunterdon County.

        

Mission Statement
To inspire the people of Hunterdon County to make a difference in the lives of their neighbors by providing diapers, wipes, and incontinent supplies through financial generosity and volunteer commitment. We work to convert our community's compassion into action on behalf of those in need by increasing awareness of the issues facing vulnerable populations.

The Diaper Bank’s mission is threefold in scope:

1) to ensure that ALICE families and individuals have an adequate supply of diapers;

2) to raise community awareness that "basic human needs" include diapers and that these needs are not being met for ALICE individuals and families;

3) to advocate for policy reform so that diapers are included in the definition of and provision for the "basic human needs" of families.

Our Committment

Our Diaper Bank is organized under the premise that those who need diapers very possibly need other social services as well. That's why we collect diapers, warehouse the diapers and then distribute the diapers to a variety of partner agencies who can work with individuals in need.

We offer diapers to parents and caregivers of infants, toddlers, special needs children, disabled youth, and elderly who can not afford the diapers they need. Our long-term vision is a community where everyone's needs are met. To accomplish this in the short term, we provide diapers to needy populations. To effect long term community improvement, we work to convert our community's compassion into action on behalf of those in need by increasing awareness of the issues facing vulnerable populations.

The Hunterdon Diaper Bank (HDB) centralizes the fundraising and distribution of free diapers to ALICE families through existing service providers, including local food pantries, daycare centers, social service agencies and shelters. Through a Diaper Distribution Network (DDN) HDB will provide free diapers monthly to ALICE families in Hunterdon County.

The Facts

The Huggies® Every Little Bottom study reveals a criticial issue in U.S. diaper need.

The Impact on Babies and Mothers

•In ALICE families, a baby can spend a day or longer in one diaper, leading to potential health and abuse risks.

•Babies in diaper need suffer more physically and emotionally when their dirty diapers cannot be changed.

•In addition to the impact that lack of clean diapers has on the babies, mothers struggling with diaper need are likely to experience emotional impacts as well including increased feelings of guilt, stress, embarrassment and feel like a "bad mother" when they are not able to change their child out of a dirty diaper.

•ALICE parents cannot take advantage of free or subsidized childcare if they cannot afford to leave disposable diapers at childcare centers. If parents cannot access daycare, then they are less able to attend work or school on a consistent basis. This in turn leads to increased economic instability and a continuation of the cycle of poverty.               

• Without transportation, buying diapers at a store rather than a large retailer can double or triple the monthly cost for diapers. Many parents are already struggling to pay for rent and food and simply cannot afford the high cost of an adequate supply of diapers for their children.

How to Collect Diapers:

By working in partnership with our community partners (corporate, organizational and individual) we can spread out support of the initative and create sustainability of the efforts.

Interested in hosting a diaper event, check out our tools to help you get started:

    - How to host a community drive

    - How to host an office drive

    - Diaper Drop Flyer

    - I did it
    - Hunterdon Diaper Bank Brochure

Please contact us if you decide to host an event so we can help publicize it.  

Clinton Honda is now a proud sponsor and permanent drop off location for the Hunterdon County Diaper Bank.  Clinton Honda is located at 1511 US Highway 22 East in Annandale, New Jersey. The dealership is open Monday through Saturday, for hours click here.  

From left to right: Gary Casterline of ShopRite, Bonnie Duncan, executive director of United Way of Hunterdon  County,
Pamela Gardinsky, marketing manager of Clinton Honda and John Killian of Clinton Honda