Diaper need is an ongoing problem among low-income families
“According to the Children’s Defense Fund, nearly 15 percent of American children lived in poverty in 2019 (the most recent year for which U.S. Census poverty data is available). In Missouri the number is closer to 20 percent.
For the families of those children, the cost of diapers is an enormous burden. Diapers must be provided to most child care facilities, and if parents can’t afford that, they can’t go to work. Lack of adequate diapers also can prevent children from taking part in early education programs such as Head Start.
The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that families spend about $936 a year for disposable diapers and the high cost can lead to less frequent changing, which can cause diaper rashes and other health issues.
That’s where diaper banks come in.”