Maya McFadden Photo
Food giveaway at Barnard last week, one of many in New Haven as hunger grows during the pandemic.
(Opinion) Imagine: You’ve just lost your job due to the pandemic, and now you don’t know how you will afford your next diaper run. Or, you can’t go to work or school, or partake in daily activities, simply because you can’t access the period or incontinence supplies you need.
For many of us, these scenarios are unthinkable, but they are the unfortunate realities for a growing number of people and families in our state. Need, which already was high pre-COVID, is soaring to new heights amid the pandemic, and it’s impacting every demographic — from infants and toddlers to youths to senior citizens.
The COVID-19 pandemic and its continuing economic fallout have spared few. Many families in our community are being drastically impacted on a daily basis. And, as usual, low-income families, like the ones The Diaper Bank of Connecticut serves, are disproportionately burdened. They are being forced to make impossible choices, like whether to spend money on basic health needs or pay for other must-haves like rent and groceries.
We envision a just world; one in which individuals and families have access to basic health needs: infant and toddler diapers, period supplies, and incontinence products for youths and seniors. No one should have to worry about affording these things.
Unfortunately, income disparity in our state is nothing new, but it’s been exacerbated by the pandemic. Never before has there been such a huge gap between those who can make ends meet and those who simply can’t. In pre-COVID times, one in three families in Connecticut struggled to afford an adequate supply of diapers; now need is at an all-time high.
At the Diaper Bank of Connecticut, we work to provide access to basic health needs throughout people’s lifespans. Thanks to our donors and supporters, this year we expanded our footprint to encompass the entire state, and broadened the scope of our work.
In the past year, we’ve distributed more than 1.6 million diapers, nearly 37,000 wipes, more than 38,000 period supplies, and more than 15,000 adult incontinence products. We also saw a growing number of families struggling to afford formula amid the pandemic, so are providing that necessity to families on an emergency basis.
While our mission has expanded to include period and incontinence supplies, the crux of our work continues to be getting infant and toddler diapers to families in need, and advocating for more accessibility. There is a growing body of literature highlighting the important health impacts of diapers, and we’ve been proud to be part of those important conversations.
In these uncertain times, our network of more than 50 community partners is doing more than just providing basic needs; they’re bringing a much-needed sense of support and stability to families. A parent educator at one of our partner agencies recently said: “When I drop off diapers, I am able to social distance but get to create a connection and get to know the family a little better, for just a few minutes. A mother has expressed to me on a few occasions how much it means to her and her family.”
A mother of two young boys said: “Receiving the diapers from The Diaper Bank is such a huge help. Nobody’s situation is perfect, and we don’t anticipate ever needing to ask for help, so I’m very appreciative to have the support and [be] getting the diapers from The Diaper Bank. It’s one less stress and a weight lifted off my shoulders. This also allows me to focus more on my children and connect better with them, while not stressed out. It means a lot to me and to my family.”
The need continues to grow, and we know we need to do more.
With your help, we will continue expanding our distribution programs. We also will keep advocating on behalf of low-income families, which are bearing the brunt of the economic hardship these days.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to The Diaper Bank of Connecticut. It’s the most effective way to support our mission, as we can leverage your dollars with our buying power and strategic network of partners. To give, visit thediaperbank.org and click the “Donate” icon.
I also invite you to make a difference by joining us in our advocacy work, which aims to create a more robust social safety net. We are advocating for infant and toddler diapers to be covered by Medicaid, and continually strive to give a voice to individuals who lack access to basic health needs. To learn more about what we are doing, email [email protected].
On behalf of families throughout Connecticut, thank you for your support.
Janet Stolfi Alfano is the executive director of The Diaper Bank of Connecticut, a local nonprofit that works to provide access to basic health needs throughout people’s lifespans.
