Annually from Mother's Day to Father's Day, United Way
hosts a Diaper Drive to collect needed supplies for local babies. These supplies are distributed to local agencies to hand out to parents. We are able to provide diapers year-round through a generous grant provided by the Aspirus Riverview Foundation. In 2025, we have distributed 28,333 items to parents in need.
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
- Federal programs that help families purchase basic necessities, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), do not cover diapers
- Without clean diapers:
- babies are exposed to potential health risks
- mothers are at risk for increased maternal depression
- parents are unable to access childcare, which require a daily supply of diapers
- parents miss work or school
- 34% of households in Wood County and 42% of households in Adams County are under the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold
- In the Wood, Portage, and Adams Counties Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA - a U.S. Census Bureau geographic area made up of groupings of about 100,000 people), 50% of children between ages 0-4 are below the ALICE threshold
- In 2024, 46% of US families with young children under age 4 wearing diapers reported diaper insecurity
Source: 2025 Wisconsin ALICE Report, The National Diaper Bank Network, U.S. Census Bureau
HOW YOU CAN HELP
We need your help to assure that local babies can get the supplies they need to be healthy and clean. To help little ones in your community, you can donate diapers, wipes, and creams during our diaper drive, or donate below any time of the year.