Across the nation, diaper need is a hidden consequence of poverty. One in two families with young children are unable to afford the diapers necessary to keep their babies clean, dry, and healthy.  This is a public health issue recognized as ‘diaper need’. Diaper need leads to a multitude of problems for both baby and caregiver, affecting not only physical health but also mental and economic health.

National Diaper Need Awareness Week is an annual campaign, launched in 2012 by the National Diaper Bank Network. Diaper banks from across the country work together with their community, and state and local governments to raise awareness about diaper needs within their community, and plan events to rally sustainable support for their diaper bank programs.

The St. Louis Area Diaper Bank currently works with over 70 partners to identify families experiencing diaper need and together distribute over 200,000 diapers on a monthly basis to guarantee their babies and toddlers are covered. Together we can continue to provide this basic essential to more families in St. Louis and surrounding cities and work to end diaper.