Why are diaper drives so important?
There is a great need for diaper donations since government food assistance programs, like SNAP and WIC, do not cover diapers. 1 in 3 Americans struggle to afford the over $1200 per year it costs to buy diapers. Parents without the resources to buy adequate numbers of diapers may be forced to leave their children in dirty diapers for too long or may try to clean and reuse disposable diapers. Babies kept in dirty diapers for extended periods of time are more likely to get diaper rash and UTIs, which leads to unhappy babies and stressed out parents.
Where will the diapers be donated?
All diapers will be donated to the Somerville WIC program. The WIC office will screen applicants and make sure the diapers go to those who need them most.
Can I donate leftover loose diapers that are a size my child has grown out of?
Yes, the Somerville WIC office will accept diapers from opened packages.
I'm unable to drop off diapers at one of your collection locations, but I'd still like to help. What can I do?
You can buy diapers from our Amazon registry and have them shipped directly to the WIC office! You may donate money to use via the paypal account SomervilleDiaperDrive@gmail.com, and we will buy additional diapers in bulk from Costco when our supply runs low.
Can I donate cloth diapers?
We are currently not collecting cloth diapers because most low income families do not have affordable access to washing facilities, and most laundromats do now allow customers to wash cloth diapers for sanitary reasons. In addition, most daycare centers require parents to provide a supply of disposable diapers. If you'd like to donate cloth diapers, we suggest sending them to the Giving Diapers, Giving Hope organization in Gloucester, MA. They collect new and used cloth diapers and accessories and lend them to low income families.
