In the News
- June 17, 2010
- Huggies Launches Every Little Bottom—The Diaper Bank to Receive 200,000 Diapers
- Huggies
On June 17, 2010, the makers of Huggies diapers kicked off a nation-wide campaign to raise awareness of diaper need in the United States and Canada. Huggies recently commissioned a study to evaluate diaper need for families in financial hardship, and the effect it has on maternal self-esteem. The study surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1513 mothers in the United States and 1008 mothers in Canada. While the findings are not entirely surprising to those who are aware the effects of diaper need in this country, the numbers are sobering. Ninety-nine percent of the mothers surveyed agreed that clean diapers are a basic need for children, yet, according to the study, one in three of the mothers in the United States surveyed cut back on essentials, like food, child care, or utilities in order to afford sufficient diapers for their children. This study will likely heighten awareness that many families cannot afford sufficient diapers, and an insufficient supply of diapers results not only in distressed babies, but also in distressed mothers and families. We urge you to read this well researched, and eye-opening report.
Huggies is not only talking the talk, but also walking the walk by distributing 2 million diapers to 10 diaper banks throughout the country. We at The Diaper Bank will receive 200,000 on June 22. While that seems like a large number, that will provide only one month’s worth of diapers to the children we already serve, and there are many more children who need diapers throughout the state than we can accommodate. We currently serve several thousand families in Connecticut, but there are many babies still in need. Please help us to reach these vulnerable children by contributing to The Diaper Bank. Still, we are extremely grateful for Huggies’ generosity, and we are thrilled to be involved in this important campaign.
- link to article
- June 1, 2010
- Joanne Goldblum, RWJF Community Health Leader, and the “Diaper Rights” Colloquium
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Joanne Goldblum founded The Diaper Bank in 2004, but for 20 years before that she honed her skills and expertise as a Social Worker and advocate for the poor as an employee of Yale University. Recognized and frequently consulted by local, regional and national Health Care, Social Services, Legal, Medical, Political and Advocacy experts, Goldblum brings a singular and powerful voice to the national stage in drawing attention to Diaper Rights and other poverty issues. Goldblum sits on numerous local and statewide boards and is spearheading the formation of a national Diaper Rights Discussion. Goldblum believes strongly that the open sourcing of The Diaper Bank’s printed and organizational materials will help to increase the number of diaper banks nationally, which will in turn meet the needs of an ever increasing number of babies across the nation. Goldblum’s ultimate goal is to ensure that all children across the nation will have access to an adequate supply of clean diapers.
After six years of successfully giving out diapers and raising awareness, Joanne Goldblum and her colleagues are intensifying their focus on policy. On April 30, she helped convened a “Diaper Rights” colloquium at the Yale Law School. (See TDB News item about the colloquium below)- link to article
- June 2010
- Over 6 Million Diapers have been distributed in Connecticut.
- The Diaper Bank
The Diaper Bank has reached another milestone!
- May 2010
- Diaper Rights Colloquium at Yale Law School a Rousing Success
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
A roundtable on Diaper Rights: Health, Hygiene and Public Policy, was held on April 30, 2010 at Yale Law School, co-sponsored by The Diaper Bank, the Yale Law School’s Arthur Liman Public Interest Program, and the New Haven law firm, Wiggin and Dana, LLP. At that conference, fifty-five individuals from around the country from both the public and private sectors began what we believe will become a national discussion on the needs of low income families to have support for basic hygiene items such as diapers.
Participants included state and federal government officials, members of several professions (doctors, lawyers, social workers, public health), representatives of organizations dedicated to issues of concern to women, children, families, and labor, journalists, public relations specialists, industry representatives, and academics. Having participants from such a wide range of backgrounds not only demonstrates the far reaching impact of diapers on society, but also provided a number of perspectives and areas of expertise to tackle the question. The group addressed the shaping of a legislative initiative for diapers – for individuals in need, ranging from infants to the elderly — to be supported by public financing.
Discussion was organized around several ways of considering the challenge. In the first session, “Welfare, Well Being, and Rights,” participants considered the questions: What is the connection between well being and welfare? How do we translate a need for diapers into a right to diapers? During the second session, “Framing the Issue(s): Children, Women, Families, and Health” participants observed that a lack of sufficient diapers affects not only the well being of the child, but also the child’s mother and family, and the health of a community. What are the possible (and most effective) ways to frame the need for diapers? The third session, “Transforming Policy: Reform at Local, State, & National Levels,” discussed the question: Ours is not the first campaign to change governmental policy to address a societal need; how have others done so, and what challenges might we face along the way? The fourth session dealt with the issue of mobilizing support, and looked to the expertise of a journalist, and an advertising executive, and a “mommy-blogger” to guide our thinking about the questions: What strategies may we employ in getting our message out? What media can we use? Should we “brand” our cause for maximum impact? Finally, in the final session of the day, “Making Law and Impediments to Change: When Can Diapers Be a Right?”, the group considered the questions: How are laws made? Is it enough to draft a bill? What makes some legislation viable while other, equally worthy, proposals die on the floor?
By the end of the day, all involved had a better understanding of the challenge ahead. This will be a long process, but participants all felt energized by the prospect. The group agreed that the meeting was the first of many, and that this group is the beginning of a coalition of participants and their organizations, dedicated to securing legislative change for diapers.
- December 9, 2009
- The Diaper Bank featured on CT Style to promote advocacy efforts
- CT Style
‘Most people agree that basic human needs include food, clothing, and shelter, and many also include healthcare and education. We know that children who suffer from a lack of food, shelter and clothing - including diapers - are at a distinct disadvantage and an increased risk of a host of problems, including neglect, abuse and lowered self-esteem. Access to diapers is not only a basic human need itself, but also a need that, if not met, results in impediments to securing other basic human needs.’
- link to article
- November 22, 2009
- Local organizations conduct Healthy Baby Diaper Drives
- New Haven Register
‘Michael Crowe wanted to energize the 3,000 state employees of Covidien as the annual United Way campaign got started this year, so he personally donated 1,000 diapers to the United Way’s Healthy Baby Diaper Drive.’
- link to article
- November 1, 2009
- Many groups help make diaper drive a success
- New Haven Register
‘Schools, clubs, companies and individuals throughout southwestern Connecticut are coming together to make United Way’s regional Healthy Baby Diaper Drive a success this fall by holding diaper drives.’
- link to article
- October 18, 2009
- State United Ways, Diaper Bank kick off regional drive
- New Haven Register
‘As a rising number of Connecticut families struggle to pay the rent and put food on the table, households with young children face the added burden of providing diapers, an often-overlooked expense that is not covered by food stamps or WIC federal funding.’
- link to article
- September 14, 2009
- Branford to hold 2nd Touch a Truck event Oct. 3
- New Haven Register
‘The United Way of Greater New Haven and the town of Branford will present the second annual “Touch-A-Truck” event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 3 at Branford High School, 185 E. Main St.’
- link to article
- August 2009
- Budget stalemate hurting nonprofits
- New Haven Register
The article discusses the impact that a lack of a state budget is having on the city of New Haven and New Haven’s non-profit community.
- link to article
- August 2009
- No Blame, But A Budget Would Be Nice
- CT NEWS Junkie
The article discusses the impact that a lack of a state budget is having on the city of New Haven and New Haven’s non-profit community.
- link to article
- June 17, 2009
- The Diaper Bank on Good Morning America
- Good Morning America
“GMA’s” AmeriCAN series focuses on ordinary people committing extraordinary acts of kindness and bravery.
In challenging times, it’s sometimes hard to be optimistic, but across the United States, there are people who focus on the greater good by helping their neighbors, friends and community.
June 17, 2009: The Diaper Bank Helps Families One Diaper at a Time
- link to article
- June 4, 2009
- Positively Connecticut
- All Things Connecticut
You might call it The Bottom Line for babies – clean diapers. But for some families in CT, an adequate supply of diapers is a luxury. Thanks to one New Haven woman, kids are “pampered” now, because of an idea that is positively CT.
- link to article
- May 19, 2009
- Diaper Bank Hit Hard in Recession
- New Haven Register
- link to article
- April 2009
- Time Magazine Power of One: Starting a Diaper Bank.
- Time Magazine
Food stamps don’t cover hygiene products. That’s why one volunteer is organizing diaper depots.
- link to article
- December 1, 2008
- Connecticut Standing Tall 2008
- CT Magazine
Connecticut Magazine salutes “those in our midst who have found ways to act-and thus serve as examples to all of us.”
CT Magazine
- September 2008
- Clean Start
- Miller-McCune Magazine
Joanne Goldblum saw poor people reusing disposable diapers and had to do something. Her nonprofit, The Diaper Bank, now gives 150,000 diapers a month to people in need.
- link to article
- July 11, 2008
- Joanne Goldblum named ABC News ‘Person of the Week’.
- ABC News
- link to article
- May 12, 2008
- People Magazine Heroes Among Us
- People Magazine
Joanne Goldblum, Founder and President of The Diaper Bank, honored as one of People magazine’s ‘Heroes Among Us’.
- link to article
- December 30, 2007
- Person of the Year
- New Haven Register
Joanne Goldblum and the New Haven Diaper Bank changing lives.
NH Reg Person of the Year 2007.
- December 16, 2007
- Basic need for the poor: Diapers
- New York Times
- link to article
- October 8, 2007
- Diaper Bank founder honored for her work
- New Haven Register
Link to Robert Wood Johnson Foundation website article.
- link to article
- August 2007
- Stocking the diaper bank
- North Haven Register
Stocking the diaper bank (picture)
- July 16, 2007
- Cloth diapers often cannot be answer for poor families
- New Haven Register
- July 16, 2007
- Getting diapers a big problem in poor homes
- New Haven Register
- February 9, 2007
- Measure’s Bottom Line: Diapers For The Poor
- The Hartford Courant
- link to article
- November 26, 2006
- The bottom line for New Haven Diaper Bank is helping parents.
- New Haven Register
- August 26, 2005
- Anthem diaper drive
- The North Haven Citizen
- May 6, 2005
- Diaper roundup: Agency holds art auction to provide diapers to low income families.
- West Haven News
- November 8, 2004
- A change for the better: New Haven Diaper Bank has Luvs and Huggies for those who need ‘em most.
- New Haven Register
- October 7, 2004
- Social worker forms Diaper Bank for needy families.
- New Haven Register
Awards & Recognitions
- The Diaper Bank named ‘Champion in Action’ by Citizens Bank
The Diaper Bank awarded $25,000 from the Citizens Bank Champions in Action program-a unique initiative designed to reward the nonprofit organizations that work so hard to champion change in our communities and make life better for us all.
- more info
- Youth Continuum 2006 Partnership Award
In appreciation for The New Haven Diaper Bank’s consistent focus on the basic needs and wellness of children.
- 2007 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leaders
The award is given to honor unique and effective community leadership that improves health and health care, especially for the most vulnerable in society. Each leader receives $105,000 to support their work and a $20,000 personal award. To learn more about this award please follow the link below.
- more info
- 2006 Elizabeth Celatto Child Care Center 11th Anniversary Special Award
In appreciation of The New Haven Diaper Bank’s innovative and invaluable service to the families in New Haven.