40 Volunteers Package 16,000 Diapers for Indiana Families

When Sara Draper bundles diapers at the Indiana Diaper Bank, she knows exactly where they're going: straight into the hands of parents who need them most.

Draper joined 40 volunteers from the Carmel Democratic Club on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to package 16,000 diapers for Indiana families. It's the club's second annual Day of Service, and it's growing every year.

The need is bigger than most people realize. One in two Hoosier families struggles to afford diapers, and there's no government assistance to help them.

Daycares require parents to provide one diaper for every two hours their child is in attendance. That adds up to about 25 diapers per week, and if parents can't provide them, they can't bring their child to daycare.

Sixty percent of Indiana families have reported missing work because they couldn't afford enough diapers. Missing work means less income, which makes affording diapers even harder.

The Indiana Diaper Bank distributes nearly one million diapers every month through a network of community organizations. Volunteers repackage diapers in bundles of 25, specifically designed for families who need to meet daycare requirements.

Draper has volunteered for three years and now serves on the Indiana Diaper Bank's Board. A dozen club members show up once a month to help the Indianapolis nonprofit meet the critical need.

The Ripple Effect

CEO Ashley Burns says volunteers are the backbone of the operation. "Ninety percent of what we do is through volunteers," Burns explained. "Volunteers help keep our costs down so we can buy and distribute between 500,000 and 750,000 diapers a month."

Those savings mean more diapers reach more families. More diapers mean more parents can go to work. More parents working means more stable households and better opportunities for their children.

The cycle of good keeps spinning because people showed up to help.

Anyone can make a difference by volunteering at the Indiana Diaper Bank or donating at indianadiaperbank.org.