DURHAM, N.C. — According to the Diaper Bank of North Carolina, one in three families experience a need for diapers. The nonprofit says, since the pandemic began, there’s been a 400% increase in diaper requests, an 800% increase in need for period products and a 2,000% increase in need for adult incontinence supplies.

What You Need To Know

The Diaper Bank of North Carolina distributes hygiene items to 130 community partners

The organization has seen a 400% increase in diaper requests since the pandemic began

The nonprofit credits that increase to the financial challenges families are facing due to the pandemic

It is also seeing fewer volunteers and donations from community groups

The Diaper Bank distributes those hygiene items to 130 community partners across the state. However, fewer people are volunteering to pack and distribute the items because of the pandemic. Additionally, community groups aren’t meeting as often, which means they aren’t hosting their usual donation drives for the organization.

“There’s a lot of talk about food insecurity in our community which is very important. It is also important to know that 100% of the time if a family is struggling for food then they are struggling for diapers. There’s absolutely no assistance that’s helping them with those items,” said Michelle Old, the founder and executive director of the Diaper Bank of North Carolina.

Old says the nonprofit typically receives 400,000 diapers a year through donations but because of the drop in donations and increase in need it has had to buy more hygiene items than usual.

“In general, diaper prices have gone up, which means the price that we pay, even though we get them far cheaper than you can ever buy online or in the store, it’s still going up for us. Access to be able to purchase those and being able to afford the increased price has put a strain on our resources,” Old said.

“Our research shows that 78% of the families that receive our services are working one to three jobs and still cannot afford basic hygiene needs. There’s a misconception about poverty in our community. People assume it’s someone that’s not motivated, that doesn’t care for their family or doesn’t work very hard. That is absolutely the opposite of what we see,” Old said.

If you are interested in learning more about the Diaper Bank of North Carolina, visit its website.