Later this fall (September 15-21) Athens Area Diaper Bank, along with diaper banks across the United States, will bring attention to diaper need during National Diaper Need Awareness Week. It’s a week dedicated to drawing attention to the problem of diaper need in the United States and the work of community diaper banks to provide diaper access for families in need.

Athens Area Diaper Bank is preparing for Diaper Need Awareness Week and is asking for early support and commitments from the community. We are asking local businesses, churches, schools, and other organizations to join us:

● Host a diaper drive: Businesses, churches, schools, and groups can host a diaper drive during Diaper Need Awareness Week. Anyone interested in participating can register their diaper drive at bit.ly/diaperdrives2025.

● Sponsor a diaper distribution. Businesses can help sponsor diaper distribution this fall, which is our busiest time for helping families in need. Funds would go directly to purchasing and distributing diapers to families in need this fall. Interested parties should submit a Sponsorship Interest Form at bit.ly/AADBSponsorForm.

● Plan on attending our Diaper Need Awareness Week Kick-Off Event on Saturday 9/13 from 10am-12pm at the Athens Library. This family-friendly event will be an opportunity to donate diapers, pick up diaper drive materials and a quick breakfast, and learn more about diaper need. We will have multiple fun activities for children and adults.

● Plan on attending our Athens Area Diaper Bank Open House on Sunday 9/21 from 11am-2pm at our facility. This event will be an opportunity to drop off diaper drives and donations, volunteer with us, and take a tour.

Further details for how individuals in the community can get involved will be available soon. Please see www.athensareadiaperbank.com/events.html for more information.

Diaper need and its fallout What is diaper need? Diaper need is the lack of sufficient supply of diapers to keep babies healthy, clean, and dry.

● Diapers cost more than $1,000 every year, an expense that nearly 1 in 2 families struggle with in our country.

● Government assistance programs, like food stamps, Medicaid, and WIC, do NOT cover diapers.

● There are over 8,000 children in our Athens area who are at risk for diaper need.

● When families struggle to afford diapers, they often must decide between buying diapers or other basic needs like food and rent.

● Most daycares require parents to supply the day's worth of diapers. Without a supply of clean diapers, families can't send their babies to daycare. Without daycare, families can't go to work or school.

Contact Athens Area Diaper Bank by email: [email protected]. For more information, visit www.athensareadiaperbank.com.