DURHAM, N.C. — Michelle Old has been helping families living in poverty for the past decade as the founder of the Diaper Bank of North Carolina. Her Triangle organization provides basic necessities like diapers, period products and adult incontinence supplies.

What You Need To Know

  • A baby formula shortage is affecting families across the country

  • Supply chain issues and an FDA shutdown of an Abbott Nutrition manufacturing plant in Michigan are causing the problem

  • Retail inventory experts with Datasembly say in six states more than half of baby formula supplies were sold out

  • The founder of a Durham diaper bank says it is getting about 400 requests for baby formula a month

It’s a cause that’s deeply personal to her.

“My son, who is now 10, came to me at a day old as a foster child, and he was very sick for the first year and a half," Old said. "He would be in the hospital three to five times a month for something as simple as a diaper rash.”

One of the greatest needs Old’s organization serves is baby formula.

“What is new is our access to getting enough formula has changed with the shortage. We’re not meeting the orders that are given to us by our community partners, so there are families who are going without," she said.

When families can’t meet their basic needs, Old says they have to make tough decisions. For instance, using sugar water as a substitute for baby formula, which has no nutritional value.

“You know, there’s a misconception about poverty in our community. Folks assume it’s someone who doesn’t work hard enough, doesn’t care enough, isn’t motivated enough, and that’s exactly the opposite of what we see," Old said.

During this period of uncertainty, Old isn’t giving up hope.

“It’s frustrating, and it’s heartbreaking. But at the same time, we’re not going to stop doing this work," she said.

As for the families out there who are struggling, Old has a message:

“We see you. We see how hard you work, and we see how much you love your families. We see you and support you, and we will continue to work every day until we meet this need, and we can be put out of business, and there’s no such thing as a diaper bank," Old said.