1 million diapers strong and still going

The state’s first nonprofit to provide free diapers, baby wipes and other children’s essentials to low-income families with young keiki reaches a monumental diaper milestone today.

Hawai‘i Diaper Bank will donate its millionth diaper to Going Home Hawai‘i at 11 a.m. at the diaper bank’s headquarters located at 45-3626 Māmane St. in Honoka‘a.

Going Home Hawai‘i is a nonprofit that provides innovative and culturally responsive services to justice-involved people and communities on the Big Island.

“Through the efforts of incredible partner organizations and donors, we could not be more pleased to be able to donate our one-millionth diaper to a keiki in need,” said Hawai‘i Diaper Bank President and Founder Jessica Histo. “Since we founded the Hawai‘i Diaper Bank in 2018, we have served countless keiki, over 600 keiki per month on Hawai‘i island, which amounts to roughly 30,000 diapers needed monthly.”

The donation of the millionth diaper coincides with National Diaper Need Awareness Week, an annual campaign during which diaper banks throughout the nation work with state and local governments to raise awareness about diaper need and plan events to rally sustainable support for diaper bank programs.

“Diapers are expensive and can cost between $80 and $100 every month per child; 1 in 2 families across the nation struggle with affording enough diapers to keep their keiki clean, dry and healthy,” said Histo.

Hawai‘i Diaper Bank was at Waimea Family Food Truck Friday on Sept. 20 and Peace Out Wipe Out in Honoka’a on Sept. 21 to raise awareness. It will be at the following events this week:

• Queens’ Culinary Market, 4 to 7 p.m., Sept. 26, Queens’ Marketplace, 69-201 Waikōloa Beach Dr., Waikōloa.
• Lions Club Diaper Drive, 8 a.m. to noon, Sept. 28, KTA Pūʻainakō in Hilo, KTA-Kailua-Kona, KTA-Waikōloa, KTA-Waimea.

For additional information and to learn more, visit the Hawai‘i Diaper Bank website.