For the month of May, the CNY Diaper Bank is challenging people to honor the moms in their lives with a donation.
Founder and director Michela Hugo said the organization distributes more than 200,000 diapers to more than 4,000 babies each month.
"It is a critical need,” said Hugo. “Babies have to have them to stay clean and dry and healthy, and they are really expensive."
Hugo said diapers are not covered by SNAP or WIC benefits, and families often need 6-10 diapers a day per child.
Diaper bank volunteer Laurie Willoughby, who has two children and five grandchildren, said she sees how the costs add up.
"Financially, it's huge,” Willoughby said. “I mean, when you've got to decide to put diapers on your baby's bottom versus groceries, in this day in age, it's tough."
Hugo said that for the month of May, financial donations up to $10,000 will be matched thanks to a grant from the John Ben Snow Foundation. And the diaper bank can make that money go a long way.
"Normally, we can buy two to three times as many diapers as someone could with the same amount of money at the store, but with the match campaign, it goes even farther,” she said.
Hugo said the community can also help by dropping off diapers, hosting a diaper drive, or volunteering.
