Holiday Drive: Diapers & Essentials

Dec 8

Help support our immigrant neighbors with urgent needs for diapers, especially sizes 4-6, menstrual pads and toilet paper.

This holiday season, Bridgetown Baby and Sellwood Community House are proud to partner with Immigrant Mutual Aid Coalition to support our immigrant neighbors in need. Every day, IMAC hears from more families that are afraid to leave their home or have experienced the detainment of a loved one. Having trusted volunteers deliver essential items to them makes a huge difference in their access to diapers and hygiene items as they navigate this difficult time.

How you can help:

Help us gather essential items such as diapers, menstrual pads and toilet paper during this difficult time for our community.

Please bring items to Sellwood Community House by January 30, 2026.
Sellwood Community House lobby: 1436 SE Spokane St.
Days/times open for drop offs: Monday-Friday, 9am-8pm

Why diapers?

Diapers make a bigger difference than you may realize.

A newborn or infant in the US may go through as many as two hundred diapers per month. With recent inflation, the largest increase in more than 40 years, diaper costs have climbed to 10% over last year’s numbers. The cost of diapers adds up for any family - and the hardest hit are the families of the more than 5 million babies in the US who are growing up in poor and low-income households.

The cost of diapers can reach as high as 16% of a family’s income when they’re living in poverty. Food stamps, Medicaid and other government programs don’t provide diapers or funding that families can use for diapers. On top of that, diapers are subject to sales tax in 29 states (including Washington), increasing the cost for families who are already strapped.

Having to make the choice between diapers and other necessities impacts babies’ health and families’ well-being: unchanged diapers can lead to health problems for babies, from diaper rash to urinary tract infections; studies show that lack of diapers is linked to maternal depression; and a baby with no diapers can’t go to daycare, impacting families’ financial stability.

This is a human rights issue that needs larger, longer-term and more sustainable solution.

While there are positive trends, with many states doing away with the 'diaper tax’ in recent years, families are still struggling; diaper banks and community organizations are stepping in to fill a present need for so many families.

As postpartum doulas and lactation consultants, we’re passionate about the well-being of newborns and their parents, and we’re committed to doing what we can to fill the gap. We’re honored to partner with Immigrant Mutual Aid Coalition this holiday season to get diapers to families living on the margins. IMAC's mission is to provide mutual aid for immigrant families, reducing health disparities and equity gaps in our communities. IMAC engages Latiné communities in Clackamas County, a historically underserved area of metro Portland. IMAC is 100% volunteer-run. Monetary donations are used to purchase additional produce from local farms, culturally preferred food staples, essential hygiene items, and supplies for community events.

We hope you’ll join us by making a donation today - thank you for helping us to hold our vulnerable community members in compassion and in care.

With love,
Your Bridgetown Baby Team

Sources:
www.imacpdx.org
www.donorbox.org/imac
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-low-income-families-are-struggling-to-afford-diapers#audio
https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/diaper-tax/
https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2022/07/21/as-prices-rise-the-push-to-end-diaper-taxes-grows
https://www.ednc.org/perspective-overlooked-diaper-need-for-nc-families/
https://earlylearningnation.com/2021/04/for-want-of-a-diaper-families-are-getting-lost-no-diapers-no-day-care-no-job/