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Hi all! I'm Jen, one of the clinicians here at Mending Minds. Not many people know that I also run the Iron County Diaper Pantry, or ICDP, a non-profit organization designed to meet the need for diapers in our community. The ICDP was started in August of 2021, as a satellite diaper bank extension of the former Utah Diaper Bank. What initially started out in a small shed in my backyard has grown into a consistent way to give back to those in our community.
Diapers can easily cost a family over $100 a month, per child. When families don't have access to clean diapers, the entire family suffers. Parents and caregivers delay changing children, parents miss work or educational opportunities because daycares require a full supply of diapers in order for children to be watched, and overall mental health of parents and caregivers suffers immensely. When parents miss work or school, the cycle of poverty and need continues. Parents and caregivers across the country have resorted to other means, like fashioning diapers out of paper towels at home or even reusing disposable diapers, in order to save the "good diapers" for public use. On average, parents or caregivers are missing 5.1 days of work or school in a month due to diaper need.
Our entire organization runs on diaper donations from the community. Diapers are donated through several different avenues, including organizations in our community, individuals, or even families donating diapers that their children have outgrown. Diapers are then rewrapped in packs of 25 to maximize the amount of families that can be served.
The Mending Minds office has been great to allow me space to place diapers that are ready for pickup in our lobby. If you ever see the black baskets under the benches, now you know why!
Common Questions
Why can't families use welfare programs to help?
Currently, there are no programs that help families cover the cost of diapers, except for a very small amount for medically needy children through Medicaid. WIC, SNAP, and other programs do not cover the cost of diapers.
Why can't families just use cloth diapers?
Cloth diapers are often cost prohibitive to start, and many daycare providers or laundromats do not allow cloth diapers in their facilities.
How do I donate?
Reach out to me at 435-363-5807. I would love to coordinate with anyone who wants to host a diaper drive, or have smaller amounts that they would like to donate.
How do I request support?
Reach out to me at 435-363-5807. I have a small questionnaire that I ask people to fill out for inventory purposes, but there is no formal paperwork.
How often can people pick up diapers?
Twice a month. While I wish that we could provide more, this allows me to support as many families as possible.
Why packs of 25?
Research has shown the average need to be about 25-50 diapers a month, and 25 is an easier option for me to track inventory.
I hope that this information has been helpful. If you have any questions, or would like to request or help support the ICDP, please feel free to contact me.