History
The New Haven Diaper Bank was created in June of 2004 in response to the lack of public assistance for purchasing diapers for poor and low-income families. Recognizing that an inadequate supply of diapers puts families with young children at an increased risk for health and parenting complications, The New Haven Diaper Bank (NHDB) began distributing diapers to poor and low-income families in New Haven through approved social service agencies. The first diaper distribution, held at the home of NHDB founder Joanne Goldblum in July 2004, provided fewer than 5,000 diapers to 5 flagship agencies. Just one year later, the NHDB expanded its storage and distribution capacity by moving into a donated warehouse space. Over the past four years the NHDB has distributed more than 2,000,000 free diapers to poor families through our nationally recognized Diaper Distribution Network.
Modeled on successful regional food banks, the NHDB collects diapers and cash donations for bulk purchases of diapers. Diapers are then distributed through local agencies including shelters, food pantries, day care and health facilities.
The New Haven Diaper Bank was 100% volunteer and donation driven until 2004. All office materials, legal fees, evaluation expertise, warehouse space and other costs were donated by friends, family and board members. By underwriting the administrative and overhead costs at that time, 100% of every dollar collected by the NHDB went toward the purchase of diapers. With the ever growing demands of managing and administering the monthly distribution of tens of thousands of diapers to dozens of agencies, the NHDB hired our first part time employee in 2006 to direct the Diaper Distribution Network.
In the Connecticut Legislative Session of 2007, the Connecticut State budget included $150,000 to be spent providing diapers to families who could not otherwise afford them. This came as a direct result of the work that the New Haven Diaper Bank has done in New Haven and the state of Connecticut. In January 2008, the New Haven Diaper Bank became The Diaper Bank as a direct result of expanding our service area into the cities of Hartford and Bridgeport. We now distribute over 100,000 diapers per month to over 50 agencies in Greater New Haven, Hartford and Bridgeport.