Did you know that diapers are not covered by public assistance programs like WIC or food stamps? And did you know that diaper companies do not make big donations to shelters or outreach programs? Until we started Help A Mother Out, we didn’t know it either. It was a revelation to us that something so basic as a diaper could have such a big impact.

If you’re not a parent, you might be surprised to realize that a jumbo pack of Pampers costs from $10 to $15—that’s 20 to 30 cents per diaper, depending on the size of the diaper. And if you can’t shop at discount stores like Target or Costco and instead have to rely on corner stores or drugstores, you’ll often end up paying even more per diaper. For reference, a newborn baby goes through 60 or more diapers a week. When money’s tight, that’s a lot of dough to drop. For families in need, having to choose between buying food or buying diapers is a terrible option—yet an all-too-common one.

Let’s break it down.

1. While safety-net programs such as SNAP (food stamps) and WIC (Women, Infants and Children) cover the cost of infant formula, they do NOT cover diapers.
2. Diaper companies do NOT give diapers away (unless you are Jon and Kate Plus 8 or the California octuplets).
3. Infant formula companies donate formula and the government subsidizes it under SNAP and WIC.
4. Diapers cost exponentially more at an inner-city convenience store than they do at a big box store or online.
5. Most laundromats do NOT allow you to wash cloth diapers. If you are poor, you probably don’t own a washing machine.
6. Most licensed daycare centers (especially free or subsidized) do not accept cloth diapers. Parents must provide disposable diapers.
7. If a family can’t afford diapers (e.g., they need that money for shelter, food, transportation), a baby will spend extended periods of time, sometimes days at a time in the same soiled diaper.
8. Washing and reusing disposable diapers is unhealthy and unsanitary.
9. Unhappy babies are crying babies. Crying babies are more likely to be abused by an already stressed-out caregiver.
10. If you cannot afford diapers, you cannot take your child to free/subsidized childcare. Therefore, you cannot make your commitments such as work, school, or job training.
11. Start over.

It’s a vicious cycle, but at HAMO are trying to help break it. By doing something so simple as donating a pack of diapers, you can help make a real difference in someone’s life.

Dearest readers, I hope at this point, you are wondering, "HOW CAN I HELP???" I'm really excited to let you know that there are so many ways you can help!!

Mother's Day Playdate with a Cause

HaMO is celebrating Mother's Day with their second annual diaper drive (they've collected over 163,000 diapers since last May!!!). To kick start the month, they're hosting a Mother's Day Playdate with a Cause

When: Sunday, May 2nd from 3-6pm
Where: Peekadoodle Kidsclub 900 North Point Street, Suite F100, San Francisco 94109

Tickets are $35 for a family (2 adults + 3 kids) and can be purchased HERE. There will be food, drinks, fun for the kids, and raffle prizes! ALL proceeds will benefit their Bay Area program. Help a Mother out is a national organization started here in SF by Lisa Truong, a mother of two.

AMAZON WISH LISTS :: Listed HERE are the Northern California organizations who benefit from HaMO. If you'd like to help out by buying diapers for a particular group, there are Amazon Wish Lists set up for each; this is SO COOL!! For example, Here is the link for the Wish List for SF's Homeless Prenatal Program.

DONATE DIAPERS IN PERSON at these lovely Bay Area businesses:

Natural Resources ~ 1367 Valencia St SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110

The Nurture Center ~ 3399 Mt. Diablo Blvd, LAFAYETTE, CA 94549

Sadiedey’s Cafe ~ 4210 Telegraph Ave., OAKLAND, CA 94602

Baby Buzz ~ 1314 Lincoln Ave, #1A SAN JOSE, CA 95125

Cubes & Crayons ~ 154 E. Dana Street MOUNTAIN VIEW 94309

HOST A DIAPER DRIVE :: HaMo would be delighted if you hosted a diaper drive with your service group, parenting group, school, work, or place of worship. Download their information sheet to share with your group. You won't even believe how inspiring this information sheet is. Click on it, seriously; it's AWESOME.

That's all from me about Help a Mother Out. Hope to see you on May 2nd at the big party. You may even win an amazing gift basket from JetKat Design!!