The Diaper Gap

Did you know that 47% of families lack access to an adequate diaper supply? (1) Clean diapers are essential for the health and hygiene of a child. This diaper gap can impact a family's financial, physical, and emotional well-being. With the rising cost of housing, food, utilities, North Texas families are struggling like never before to provide basic necessities. They need your help!

Diapers can be a significant financial burden for families struggling to make ends meet.

Joining the workforce can be difficult for struggling parents because most childcare facilities require them to provide diapers for their children. Families can spend $80 or more a month to meet this requirement. (2) The only federal assistance program that helps parents pay for diapers is the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The TANF program provides a small monthly cash benefit for families, but most people use it for needs like housing and utilities. This leaves very little left over for diapers.

Lack of access to clean diapers can lead to health problems for children.

When babies and young children are not changed frequently, they risk developing diaper rash, which can be painful and lead to infection. Dirty diapers can also harbor germs that cause illness, and contribute to the spread of diseases, such as norovirus and hepatitis A. Access to clean diapers is essential for the health and well-being of children.

A lack of access to clean diapers can lead to familial stress and depression.

Constant worry about diaper affordability can cause caregivers a significant feelings of stress and shame. These feelings contribute to depression and anxiety as parents feel overwhelmed and unsupported. The diaper gap can have serious consequences for the mental health and well-being of parents and caregivers.

Hope Cottage is working to close the diaper gap, but we need your support.

Diaper donations allow parents to redirect their limited resources to other necessities, such as food, clothing, and housing. If you can, please consider donating diapers and wipes. Every donation has a lasting impact on the well-being of children and their families. Is your child’s school looking for a service project? Has your church, company, or civic group run canned food drives for charities? Would they consider collecting diapers for Hope Cottage instead? Hosting a diaper drive is a great way to raise awareness of the diaper gap and provide a vital resource to children and families in need. When parents are unable to provide an adequate amount of diapers, a child’s health and safety are at risk. By providing help to Hope Cottage we can fill the diaper gap for hundreds of Dallas children in need.

(1) Survey conducted by Huggies in partnership with the National Diaper Bank Network.

(2) Report from the National Diaper Bank Network (2023). https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/NDBN-Diaper-Check-2023_Executive-Summary-FINAL.pdf.