DC Diaper Bank: Taking a Load Off Families
Caring for a baby can feel like a whirlwind sometimes. As if raising a child weren't stressful enough, many parents are left to worry about how they will provide their child with basic needs such as diapers. According to BabyCenter.com, disposable diapers cost an average of $72 a month. In other words, not easy on the budget.
The DC Diaper Bank takes a load off families who struggle just to make ends meet. In the District, 26 percent of children under the age of six live in poor families. DCDB’s mission is to "strengthen families by providing a reliable and adequate supply of free diapers to families in need," according to its website.
Diaper donations in the DC Diaper Bank Warehouse/ Photo courtesy of DC Diaper Bank
The idea for the nonprofit began in 2009 when founder Corinne Cannon and her husband Jay became first-time parents to a baby boy named Jack. After realizing how much work is required of parents, Cannon began thinking about mothers who are less fortunate than her and what she could do to alleviate some of the stress they experience on a daily basis. She was blown away to learn that the nearest diaper bank was more than 200 miles away in Pennsylvania.
"I remember being with a friend of mine in the park complaining about how no one had taken this issue on, what was going to happen, and why it wasn't being addressed and my friend finally said to me, 'Corinne, you just need to do it and so I did," Cannon said. "I knew I could make a difference and I felt I had a responsibility to do it.”
Corinne Cannon, founder of DC Diaper Bank/Photo from UrbanSitter.com
On average, more than 2,500 families receive 75,000 diapers monthly. To date, the organization has donated nearly two million diapers to deserving families. DC Diaper Bank works with 30 different organizations in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Those organizations offer comprehensive family care and provide help with food, utility bills and case management. (Next)