Every Sunday, Eliot Chapel shares half of the offertory with an organization in the community whose work reflects our shared values. This is one way that we care for our community and our neighbors. We are very pleased that July's recipient is the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank.
The Diaper Bank's mission is building healthy communities by ending diaper need and period poverty through access, education, and advocacy.
Through fundraising and donations, they provide approximately 125,000 diapers per month to underserved families. In addition, they now provide approximately 6000 period products per month to low-income women.
Federal and State programs (WIC, Food Stamps) cannot be used to purchase diapers or period products. In Missouri, both diapers and period products are taxed as "luxury" items and so the taxes are higher on both. The Diaper Bank provides 50 diapers a month per child to families in need. The products are distributed through 75 partner agencies (PAT programs, St. Louis County Library branches, medical clinics, food pantries, etc.). In 2023 in the St. Louis area, 1 in 2 families experienced diaper need and 1 in 4 women struggled to purchase period products.
It costs about $1000 a year to diaper a child and almost $500 a year to purchase period supplies for one woman or girl. Keeping infants and toddlers clean, dry, and healthy is key to building a solid foundation for all children. Inadequate menstrual hygiene has been associated with infection and poor health-related quality of life. Learn more at stldiaperbank.org.
