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Alameda County has launched a three-year, $5.8 million Diaper Bank program to provide monthly access to diapers and baby wipes for families with young children over a three-year period.
The initiative is a collaborative effort by the Alameda County Social Services and two nonprofits — SupplyBank.org, which distributes essential goods to low-income families, and First 5 Alameda County, which focuses on pre-kindergarten children. The Diaper Bank Program is funded by Alameda County and First 5 Alameda.
They will distribute over 15 million diapers and 37 million baby wipes through more than 50 community-based organizations and county agencies. Distribution sites include family resource centers, libraries, WIC centers, school districts, health clinics, hospitals. Diaper distributions are integrated into existing wraparound services.
According to a statement from Supply Bank, diaper need results in approximately 40,000 visits to California hospitals annually, 80% of which are to the emergency room. One in two families in the U.S. now struggles to afford diapering supplies.
A 2021 study in the Journal of Pediatrics reported that an estimated 36% of parents endorsed diaper need. Diaper dermatitis (rash) and urinary tract infection were associated with parents having insufficient diapers to keep a baby clean, dry and healthy.
Diaper need is a real concern for Alameda County families. Hively will be a key distributor and partner for the new diaper bank program, leveraging both our mobile and fixed family resource centers for distribution. We are excited to continue to provide families with the resources they need to thrive.