Several months before giving birth, I joined a few local Facebook groups to mentally prepare myself for this new chapter. I’ve said it before, but without these groups, the first year would have been exponentially harder. It was so special to have a community of local moms to turn to, especially when everything seemed a bit impossible. We exchanged tips, tricks, stories, and even our own personal struggles. In the first year, one of the things that was most eye opening for me was the Diaper Need struggle in my own community.

A little back story: My own parents, who immigrated from Moscow to start a new life, had their fair share of financial problems, including struggling to afford diapers.  It really can affect anyone. I would have never thought that so many women, many of whom are living pay check to pay check, are facing these same struggles.

The reality is, Diaper Need is a real problem in our society.  According to a new study Diaper Need and Its Impact on U.S. Families, by the National Diaper Bank Network and founding sponsor Huggies, 1 in 3 families struggle to provide enough clean diapers for their children. 1 in 3! That statistic is absolutely mind blowing. And of those, 3 out of 5 are more likely to miss work or school because parents can’t put their babies in daycare without providing enough diapers.

In response to the magnitude of this problem in the U.S., Huggies became a founding member of the National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN), whose network of over 300 diaper banks currently helps families around the country get the diapers they need. Since 2011, Huggies has donated over 200 million diapers and wipes!

Last month, I had the opportunity to visit a local diaper bank myself, the Good+ Foundation, and I got to witness firsthand, how much relief these banks provide families in need. The thought of a parent having to struggle to keep their child in a clean diaper is not a situation any parent should be forced to confront. After leaving the diaper bank, I felt such a need to help in whatever way I can.

Next month, on Sunday, January 14th, we’ll be hosting a diaper drive in Brooklyn, NY from 12-4PM. Please find all details below, but if you’re unable to attend on that day, but still wish to donate, please email Tilden@brooklynblonde.com and we can arrange something.

We’ll be accepting all diaper donations. Even if you’re able to bring just one pack of diapers, anything helps.

If you don’t live in NYC and want to help, you can learn more about easing diaper need at Huggies.com/NoBabyUnhugged! If you have any questions at all about donations or getting involved feel free to leave a comment or send me a message!

Huggies – the fastest growing diaper brand in U.S. hospitals – believes deeply in the Power of Hugs, which is why every diaper and wipe is inspired by a parent’s embrace. The Huggies No Baby Unhugged program helps ensure all babies get the hugs they need to thrive by supporting hugging programs in hospitals and donating diapers across the country. Learn how you can help at Huggies.com/NoBabyUnhugged.