Diaper Bank passes 250,000 out

Community support and awareness has allowed the Diaper Bank of Skagit County (DBSC) to distribute a quarter million diapers to low income families since 2017. The cost has been minimal; less than 10 cents per diaper. This compares to 28 cents at COSTCO and over 40 cents for financially strapped families that purchase small packages.

The founder, my wife, Calista Scott is a retired maternity nurse who saw the desperation in mothers while volunteering at the Sunrise food Bank and wanted to help. In 2016 she attended the National Diaper Bank Network conference in Seattle and learned that diaper banks often start small and can provide long term benefits to families and communities.

Most of us do not think about the cost or the health benefits that are derived from having an adequate supply of diapers. We assume food stamps can be used to purchase diapers – no they cannot. No federal or state program supports the purchase of this important product.

This year the DBSC will distribute over 160,000 diapers by providing small supplemental packages of diapers to families that attend WIC. The DBSC is providing diapers to WIC offices that serve Mount Vernon/Burlington, Anacortes and the Swinomish.

The need is great we are probably meeting less than 25% of the county-wide need.

We are always looking for volunteers. Check out http://diaperbankskagit.org or Diaperbankskagit on facebook.

Dean Scott

Shelter Bay