Diaper Project

Keeping babies clean, dry, and healthy

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​​Babies need many supports, like food, shelter, and a nurturing relationship with a parent or caregiver. An adequate supply of diapers is also essential to a baby’s health. Lacking an adequate supply of diapers can cause undue stress on both baby and parent and can affect not only short-term health, but a child’s long-term health and development. 
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Babies use 6-10 diapers per day and they can cost up to $1,000 per year when purchased at retail.
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“I can see the relief on a parent’s face when I show up with diapers.”

​- Shannon Landry, Early Head Start Home Visitor

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With United Way's Diaper Project bulk purchasing rate, your donations will help many families. All diapers purchased will go to local organizations that support local families.

​Using United Way of Mid Coast Maine’s special purchasing rate for high quality diapers:

• $ 15 provides diapers for the first 10 days of a baby’s life
• $ 75 provides diapers for the first 2 months of a baby’s life
• $ 250 provides diapers for the first half year
• $ 500 provides diapers for the 1st year of a baby’s life

DONATE DOLLARS FOR DIAPERS NOW:

Option 1: Choose a level of support

Option 2: Name your own donation price

Click the Donate button to name your own price:

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​​What contributes to Diaper Need?

• Diaper Need is the lack of a sufficient supply of disposable diapers for a baby to remain clean, dry and healthy.
• The purchase of diapers is not covered by SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) or the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program.
• Infants require up to 12 diapers per day, toddlers about 8.
• The average cost of diapers at the grocery store is $1,241 per year per child. For a parent earning $15,600 (working full-time at Maine’s minimum wage of $7.50/hour) that’s over 8% of their income.

Why disposable diapers?

• Cloth diapers require an in-home washer and dryer, which many households lack.
• For sanitary reasons, coin-operated Laundromats often don’t allow customers to wash cloth diapers.
• Most childcare centers require parents to provide a day's supply of disposable diapers.

How you can help:
In addition to your donation to United Way, which helps organize initiatives like the Diaper Project as well as fund direct services, you can:

• Give Online to the Diaper Project (below)
• Send a Check: Financial contributions to the Diaper Project are the most effective way to help and allows for the purchase of diapers at the lowest possible cost. Please send checks to United Way of Mid Coast Maine, 34 Wing Farm Parkway, Suite 201, Bath ME 04530. Please indicate that your donation is for the Diaper Project.
• Volunteer to run a Diaper Drive – collect diapers for distribution to community organizations. Contact Maria Hinteregger 207-443-9752 for simple instructions and materials.
• Make a donation in honor or memory of someone. 
• Donate diapers, including open packages, at United Way’s office, 34 Wing Farm Parkway, Bath. Diapers are distributed to local organizations that connect with families with young children.

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Did you know...?
OPEN PACKAGES of diapers are welcome donations.

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Why is United Way involved?
United Way of Mid Coast Maine is committed to helping create the Absolutely Best Childhood for Mid Coast children and our organizational mission is “to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities.”  We want to improve babies’ health and well-being by raising community awareness of the basic need for diapers and increasing the availability of diapers for Mid Coast families.

Diapers and funds to purchase diapers have been collected through Diaper Drives held at businesses and organizations. Contributions from individuals and community groups have also gone a long way to support the program. Since the Diaper Project's beginnings in August of 2014 we have been able to distribute over 62,000 diapers to programs like food pantries and home visitor for distribution to families facing diaper need. We hear many stories of relief and appreciation from these programs - your donations are having a real effect on the lives of Mid Coast babies and families.

Fleet Davies from the Boothbay Harbor Food Pantry came by in March to pick up diapers for food pantry clients. He also picked up diapers for the Boothbay Region Community Resources program. 

A huge THANK YOU to the Mid Coast community for continuing to support the Diaper Project and spread the word about ‪Diaper Need‬: the lack of a sufficient supply of diapers to keep babies clean, dry, and healthy.

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