You’re probably used to going through your pantry and finding non-perishable food items to donate to your local food bank. Maybe you even collect your extra health and beauty supplies and donate those, too. But you may not think of donating diapers, even when you accumulate a large stockpile with great sales at CVS or Walgreens, because you figure you’ll use them up eventually.
Did you know that government-assistance programs like food stamps and WIC do not cover the cost of diapers? This means that low-income families have an extra expense to add to their budgets, especially since many do not have personal laundry facilities where they can wash cloth diapers. Also, most daycare facilities require parents to supply disposable diapers, so if the parents can’t afford this expense, they may not be able to work as many hours due to their inability to put their children in daycare.
Because of this issue, Kristen Grode (a Pocket Your Dollars’ reader) started the Diaper Drive, Minnesota’s first diaper bank. The Diaper Drive collects disposable diapers at over 25 drop-off locations in the Twin Cities area which are then given to third-party agencies to donate. The Diaper Drive has been featured on WCCO and will also be featured next Tuesday (June 29) on Twin Cities Live (which coincidentally is the next time I’ll make an appearance on that show, as well).
If you decide to donate disposable diapers to the Diaper Drive, consider doing so at any Rainbow Foods location in the Twin Cities. You’ll get a coupon good for $1 off any $5 or more purchase of Roundy’s Brand health & beauty products when you donate and receive your coupon at customer service. Limit one coupon per household, expires 12/31/10.
Your turn: Have you heard of the Diaper Drive before? Where/what are you planning to donate?
About Carrie Rocha
This so great. I had no idea of what to do with some leftover diapers! Do you know if they accept an open pack? My baby grew out of size 2 but I have a few of them left. Would hate to throw them away.
Ellie–Yes, the Diaper Drive does accept open packs.
Ellie, I heard about this on KTIS yesterday morning and they DO accept open diaper packs!
Hi, yes! Open packs are accepted. Thank you!
Do you know if they have to be in complete packages or will they take singles? I will be donating at Rainbow in Coon Rapids.
Thank you so much for posting this, Carrie! We need to get the word out to as many people as possible..the need is SO great!
Ellie–YES. We take open packs! Just put them in a ziplock or grocery bag, preferrably by size.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Ellie – their announcement on KTIS (98.5fm) said that they do accept open packs. I’ve got a bunch of NB size to donate because my daughter outgrew them seemingly overnight just after I opened a new pack.
They accept any brand, opened or unopened diapers- especially the bigger sizes! They are also collecting any unopened formula donations too. It’s such a needed service- it’s wonderful that someone in MN was caring enough to start this and keep it going for our residents!!
I have a bunch of pull-ups since my daughter potty trained quicker than I anticipated.
In our area of northern California they also established collection points for adult incontinence supplies to be given out to needy persons.
FYI: The Diaper Drive does adult diapers toooooo! :-) I keep forgetting to mention that! Sorry…
Awesome! Have some from my mom who has passed that I can give. THanks for the info!
I heard about this on KTIS also! I’m so glad the word is getting out!! Good luck:)
Does anyone know if they collect swimmer diapers? We just cleaned out a drawer full of them at the cabin and I would love to donate them:)
They (we) DO take swim diapers! :-)
Teeny Greenies accepts cloth diapers. And lends to needy families – or those who’d like to try cloth before buying. (Cloth diapering saves a lot of $$$!)
http://www.teenygreenies.org/Home_Page.html
Do they accept formula samples by chance? I have some that don’t expire for another year.
Yes, we accept formula :-) Thank you!!!
Kristen, Can I still drop off diapers at Rainbow stores? I was there today but didn’t notice a drop off spot.
Can we still drop off diapers or has this program concluded?
Yes… would love your donations!!! You can find the dropoff locations at http://www.thediaperdrive.org
I keep finding information on donating but I could really use the information on where to pick up the donations. We are often short on money for diapers, but I have been unable to locate somewhere that we can pick up diapers when we are in need. If anyone can tell me who to contact I would really, really appreciate it. Thanks :)
Hi Collette,
Please visit the site listed below to find all of the agencies The Diaper Drive works with to distribute diapers.
http://thediaperdrive.org/mplsagencies.html
Thank you!!
Kristen