Catholic Charities needs your help to provide diapers and wipes for families across Southern Minnesota! For young families, diapers are a constant need. Most newborns require 10-12 diaper changes a day. This perpetual chore for parents also represents a huge financial burden, often over $80 per month, and 47% of families nation-wide experience “diaper need” – meaning they do not have enough diapers to provide for their child. Diaper need creates stress and exacerbates the cycle of poverty. It has been linked to poor maternal mental health and is a social determinant of health for the child and parents. When parents can’t provide clean diapers, the child cannot attend daycare and parents then miss work hours. Other times parents may change diapers less frequently to stretch their dollars, but this can cause health problems for the baby. Every baby deserves clean, dry diapers for their health and the well-being of the entire family.
Catholic Charities has been committed to supporting confident pregnancies and stable beginnings for decades. One way the agency creates stability for children is through basic needs like diapers and wipes. Catholic Charities receives diapers through generous community donations and grant funds. These diapers are shared with families in need through our diaper banks in Winona, Rochester, and Mankato, along with monthly pop-up distribution sites in Owatonna and Worthington. Catholic Charities provides diapers to nearly 200 families and over 250 children each month. One young mother shared “[This program] has helped tremendously with providing basic necessities for my children.” Another parent said “This is amazing. It helped me catch up with what my little one needed”.
Some families stop in to Catholic Charities occasionally when money is extra tight, and receive a pack of diapers or pull-ups for each of their children. Other families visit our offices each month and rely on the free diapers to help balance their budget. As inflation continues to rise, so does the need for diapers.
Catholic Charities’ annual diaper drive is March 1-31, 2025. The agency is collecting diapers, pull-ups and baby wipes of all brands and sizes. You can drop off donations at Catholic Charities’ offices in Winona, Rochester and Mankato, and at participating parishes across the Diocese (check your bulletin to see if your parish is a collection site). You can also support by giving a monetary donation. All the diapers that are donated will be shared with families in need throughout Southern Minnesota. As one parent said, “Thank you for helping people in the community. I appreciate all the things I got it from there. God bless you and your families.”
Do you need help with diapers? Catholic Charities is committed to supporting stable beginnings for all children. Families in need can receive diapers, wipes, and/or pull-ups on a monthly basis. A copy of the child’s birth certificate or crib card is needed to enroll in the program. For more information, including locations and hours, call 507-454-2270.