Diaper Drive at Whole Foods Market P Street

1440 P Street, Washington, DC 20005

Saturday, May 4th

10am – 2pm 

Help us collect 10,000 diapers for babies and toddlers in our community! How can you help? Do you have extra diapers that your child has outgrown? Can you pick up an extra pack on your regular diaper run or order? Bring them to Whole Foods Market, P Street between 10am and 2pm and donate them directly to DC Diaper Bank! Currently enjoying a diaper-free lifestyle? Packages of our 365 Diapers will be available for purchase at the register! AND for every diaper donated, WFM P Street will match diaper for diaper!

Winesday: Mom’s Favorites & Diaper Drive to Benefit DC Diaper Bank 

at Whole Foods Market Georgetown

2323 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Washington DC 20007

Wednesday, May 8th

5:30pm – 7:30pm

The Best Happy Hour in town is serving mom’s favorites this week! If you are a mom, get $1 off admission! Admission gets you 5 small plates of food each paired with a 2oz pour of wine. Last ticket is sold at 7:30pm sharp. Bring a couple extra dollars this week because WFM Georgetown is doing a diaper drive for DC Diaper Bank that night as well. Everyone who buys a package of diapers will be entered in a raffle to win an awesome gift basket for any mom in your life..

We hope you’ll share these dates with your friends and family. To learn more about other upcoming events or to host your diaper drive today, visit us at www.dcdiaperbank.org.

The post Events Worth Celebrating this Spring at DC Diaper Bank! appeared first on DC Diaper Bank.

About a month ago the DCDB Board had an amazing meeting at Fair Chance, led by the talented Arthur Cutler, to discuss our strategic vision for the future of the organization.  If that sounds pretty deep and intense, that’s because it was!  Over a few hours (and quite a bit of coffee and donuts), we brainstormed, discussed, and diagrammed what we hoped for our organization to accomplish over the next few years.

It’s too easy to get caught up in the minutiae of the day-to-day operations of the Diaper Bank.  When we’re constantly working hard to find the next donor or the next diaper drive organizer, it can be hard to take a step back and spend some time thinking about where we want to go in the next year, five years, or more.  That’s why the Fair Chance meeting was so valuable: it forced us to take stock of our accomplishments (of which there are many) and figure out exactly what we need to do to continue our phenomenal growth.

So what exactly did we discuss?  It’s probably easier to say what we didn’t discuss, but here are a few of the things percolating in our heads, particularly the types of things that you, our supporters, can help us out with:

• Warehouse!  We’ve been harping on this the past few weeks on Facebook and Twitter, but that’s because it’s probably our most important development.  For us to expand at the rate we hope to expand and really increase our reach in the community, it’s time for us to have our own dedicated warehouse space.  We’re in the process of finding various options in the area, and are looking to partner with an organization or two to share some space.

• Funding!  We have some amazing financial backers already, but for us to take the next big step we need a more dedicated stream of funding, both on the individual level and the foundation/grant level.  This is as good a time as any to plug our Factor of 12 campaign.  Also, if you or someone you know has experience putting together grants and would be interested in helping us write our own, drop us a line!

• Interns and volunteers!  We came up with so many projects for the coming months and years that will help lay a good foundation for our growth, but for these projects to succeed we’re going to need some help.  Projects could include setting up our new warehouse space (fingers crossed!), compiling data into a donor database, coordinating with diaper drive organizers, and so on.  That means we need interns and/or volunteers.  We’re already in the process of lining up a summer intern or two, and we’re working on ways to get more volunteers involved.  Stay tuned for more info on this, but if you’re interested in working with us in a volunteer or intern capacity, let us know!

• Programmatic expansion!  Probably the thing we’re most excited about doing is expanding our partnerships to more organizations providing “programmatic” services to clients.  This means organizations that are using diapers and baby supplies in innovative ways to get parents and families in the door for other services.  We’ve found that diapers are a “gateway” item for attendance at parenting classes, for example.  We all know how important diapers are on a basic level for a baby and family, and now we’re expanding that impact in a much broader way by working with these types of organizations.  We are extremely excited about these opportunities and can’t wait to see what kind of impact we can have.

The above categories really just scratch the surface of what we discussed at Fair Chance.  As you can see, the DCDB Board has a lot of big plans, and we can’t wait to make them into reality.  With your continued support and involvement, we have no doubt that we can achieve all of our long-term goals and become an even better organization serving the metro DC area!

The post Where We’re Going – the DCDB Future is Bright! appeared first on DC Diaper Bank.

Alison Weir, the director of programs at NDBN explains perfectly why this program is such a lifeline for us here at DC Diaper Bank:  “Diaper banks are essential organizations.  Because they are often grass roots movements starting out of someone’s kitchen or church basement, they are also often vulnerable ones, without secure funding or the staff time to develop new resources….By providing diaper banks with a reliable supply of diapers and targeted technical assistance, we support them as they become stronger and more sustainable to allow them to meet the needs of more low-income families.”

And that’s a good part of why we’re planning.  So much of our time at DCDB is spent thinking about and planning for inventory needs.  We distribute 35,000+ diapers a month to our network and that means we need to have 75,000 – 100,000 in inventory to meet the demand that’s right around the corner. We’re always thinking several months down the line.  These diapers and the expertise from NDBN will allow us to slow down a little and focus more of our energy on longer term planning, ensuring our distribution network has the tools they need to integrate diapers most effectively into their programs, and raising funds to guarantee we’re here to help families for as long as it’s needed.

In the coming months we’ll be moving to a new warehouse space and announcing some new programs to ensure that our families and little ones have the very basics they need.  We are so grateful to the National Diaper Bank Network and their founding sponsor Huggies for this incredible partnership. Check out this Huffington Post article by NDBN Executive Director Joanne Goldblum for more on this partnership program. Back to planning!

- Corinne Cannon, Founder & Executive Director

The post Planning, New Programs and 250,000 Diapers from the National Diaper Bank Network! appeared first on DC Diaper Bank.

But don’t take our word for it – take it from one of our current collection sites, Monkey’s Uncle in DC!  We recently spoke with Jay and Michael, the co-owners of the store, about what being a collection site has meant for their business.  “We couldn’t be more thrilled to be a drop-off for the bank,” they said.  Not only do current customers bring in diaper donations regularly, they have had many non-customers come in to donate diapers, and many of them have become customers.  Jay and Michael see the drop-off box as “another level of service” they provide, just like a changing table or nursing lounge.  Monkey’s Uncle is a business geared towards giving back to the community, and providing a location to drop off diaper donations is just another easy way for them to do that.  Customers at Monkeys’ Uncle have donated more than 4,000 diapers in the last year! If you find yourself in the Eastern Market area in DC, be sure to stop in and say hello to Jay and Michael!

If you’re interested in working with us to collect diapers at your local business, drop us a line with your contact information and your business location.  We will be in touch as soon as possible to work out the details.  And, of course, if you don’t run a business but know one that may be interested in getting involved, pass our information along to them!

- Jay Williams, DC Diaper Bank Board (jwilliams@dcdiaperbank.org)

The post Follow The Monkeys’ Uncle Lead! appeared first on DC Diaper Bank.

Last month capped off the second annual Men for Others Diaper Drive and the results were impressive to say the least. This year the Gonzaga community came together and donated over 10,000 diapers to the DC Diaper Bank to support babies and families in need in the DC area! Spearheaded by the Gonzaga Moms Club, the drive took on a life of it’s own as all membersof the Eye Street Community got involved.  This year’s drive nearly doubled last year’s efforts.

This is just one shining example of the amazing impact that a tight knit and driven community can create. If you have a group in mind or are part of an organization that can really make a difference, please reach out to the DC Diaper Bank and let’s see what our communities can really do or check out the Diaper Drive Toolkit.

John Cannon

DC Diaper Bank Board and Gonzaga Class of 2001

The post 2nd Annual Gonzaga Men for Others Diaper Drive appeared first on DC Diaper Bank.

I love community. And I mean serious butterflies-in-stomach-this-is-more-than-a-crush LOVE. Unfortunately I love the idea of what I believe community can and should be. I love the idea of neighbors helping neighbors and I love the idea of all children having the opportunity to learn and play in a clean and safe environment.

Much like Corinne, I had a challenging baby. My little colicky miracle challenged everything I thought motherhood was supposed to be. We had the resources to provide everything from time to diapers for my non-sleeping little one, but I still felt like I was at my wits end at times.  But what if I didn’t have that? What if I had to find a $1 to buy a diaper off a neighbor every time he pooped? Worse, what if I had to re-use that diaper because I spent that $1 on food for my baby. I’m not being dramatic for effect here. These are real decisions that moms in OUR community are making. RIGHT NOW. I don’t love that.

And that’s when my eyes tear up and my heart swells. Because I met Corinne, who took it upon herself to start DC Diaper Bank. And from there I’ve met so many other parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends who feel the same way as I do. Because parenthood is hard, people. It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor. And I certainly don’t want anyone in my community having to make the decision between food and diapers. People in my community deserve better than that.

Sometimes you have show your love and support for your community from the bottom up. Literally. With every diaper or dollar you donate to DC Diaper Bank, you say “I love you and you are important” to every mother, father and baby we serve. Won’t you say “I love you” with me this Valentines Day? Become a Factor of 12 or visit our Amazon Wishlist today.

Happy Valentine’s Day! I love you!

Cheers,

The post Hey Community, I LOVE You! appeared first on DC Diaper Bank.

(1)  Get the Buy In From Powers that May Be Early

Venable hosted its diaper drive in September but started planning for the dates of the drive in June.  Many workplaces have a rotating schedule of philanthropic and workplace events and it’s good to get on the calendar early.

(2)  Incorporate Competitive Elements to Drive Donations

It’s a fact of life that people are motivated by competition, even in philanthropic endeavors.  For our recent drive, we split the office into different teams and offered a prize for the team that brought in the most diapers.  It doesn’t have to be a super valuable prize – ours was a couple of boxes of donuts – but people embraced the contest and we quadrupled the number of diapers brought in than the last drive.  Having a small prize at the end doesn’t take away any of the charitable aspects of the campaign, it just sweetens the deal.

(3)  Recruit Champions in the Office

People listen to those who they are close to and it’s important to have several people champion the cause in a workplace giving campaign.  For our drive, we recruited a “Diaper Captain” for each division and asked these people to reach out to their team and coordinate donations.  Having several well respected workplace leaders make the ask also lead to a more successful campaign.

(4)  Provide Regular But Non-Annoying Updates

Work is busy and it’s often easy to ignore a one-time request.  To keep the campaign fresh, we sent emails every couple of days with updated team totals and a renewed donation request.  You don’t want to send updates so frequently that people become annoyed, but regular updates are appreciated and will remind people about how they can help.

(5)  Offer Alternatives

Some people are just not comfortable buying diapers.  Others will be so busy the week of the campaign that they will not have time to make a trip to the store.  Therefore, it helps to offer the option for people to make monetary donations online or in person.  We also allowed people to send diapers to DCDB via Amazon and receive credit so remote offices could get involved.  Make it easy for people and they will give.

(6)  Make It an Annual Event – Speak in “Next Year”

Once you have the momentum going from a successful drive, get it on the calendar to have another next year.  Annual drives are invaluable to the DCDB because they allow predictable donation planning, and once you’ve had one drive, it’s simple to make it an office tradition for that time of year.

Planning a workplace drive is easy and DCDB has a Diaper Drive Toolkit with many more resources.  Please put the wheels in motion to have a workplace diaper drive today!

- Kristalyn Loson, DC Diaper Bank Treasurer

The post Bringing Diapers to Work – How to Host a Workplace Diaper Drive appeared first on DC Diaper Bank.

Snapshot:

What Worked:

Getting three well known and loved local businesses involved in the drive

Recruiting a cadre of committed volunteers (total volunteers:  a dozen) and dividing the work

Getting out into the community – signs, listservs, and presence

Where:  Capitol Hill, Washington, DC

When: Two weeks in September (including 3 Saturdays)

Results: Nearly 8,000 diapers (double the year before) and over $500 in donations

Amanda Moniz was a relatively new mom when she learned about the DC Diaper Bank – it was an issue she knew she could get involved with and one she knew she could impact. “I got involved because I believe in the Diaper Bank’s mission.  But it also appealed to me because organizing a diaper drive is a manageable time commitment.  Even with all the demands of a baby, I could still help others.”  So Amanda started talking to some other moms she knew and they brainstormed a way to do a drive beyond just their circle of friends.

They wanted to involve the whole community in the drive and raise awareness about diaper need while doing it.   “We wanted to make supporting babies and families in need a community event– as much as the annual Family Fest in the fall or trick-or-treating on Halloween.  The Hill is a strong community and the Diaper Drive makes our community and the communities we help stronger.”  They decided to approach local businesses in the neighborhood about being drop off locations for diapers and to see if they might sweeten the deal by offering small incentives for people to donate.

The planning group approached three small businesses that were family-oriented or had strong neighborhood ties and each one agreed to take part in the drive.  They timed the drive for mid-late September when folks were back in town from vacations and already into the groove of school schedules.

Working with Local Businesses

The three local businesses – Metro Mutts, Playseum, and ShawaFel each offered a small discount or incentive when people donated a package of diapers at their location.   They also helped publicize the drive on Twitter, Facebook, etc.   “The businesses were very happy to help.  The cause is important – and it’s good for business for them.  Everyone wins.”

Volunteers

In all, a dozen volunteers helped with the Second Annual Capitol Hill Diaper Drive. One person organized the overall drive.  Another volunteer organized outreach booths at a busy location – Eastern Market – for the first two Saturdays of the drive.  Two volunteers did outreach at another farmers’ market on the first weekend of the drive.  Several volunteers helped staff the Eastern Market booths, while two people donated the money to pay the booth permit for Eastern Market.  Another woman made eye-catching signs for the collection boxes at the three businesses, while a couple other volunteers went to pick up diapers every few days at the businesses so the boxes didn’t overflow.  A few people also responded to listserv messages to help gin up support and build momentum.  Finally, three volunteers tallied the diapers.

Getting the Word Out

Volunteers for the diaper drive staffed tables at Eastern Market and at H Street Farmer’s Market over two weekends handing out flyers and “I donated” stickers, collecting diapers and even some cash (in a jar like a tip jar), and talking to folks – most of all parents with young kids – about the drive and the need for diapers in our community.   We even asked people to donate diapers from their diaper bags – and they did!

The outreach at the markets made a huge difference.  Many people we talked to came back the second weekend with diapers and others donated at the three local businesses.  The flyers included information on the incentives the businesses were offering.  Kids loved the “I donated” stickers.

Advice for Planning Your Own Community Drive

-       Think BIG and think about what is important in your community

-       Involve local businesses

-       Do outreach at places that a lot of people pass by.

-       Many hands make light work

-       Name the drive to make it an event and consider making it annual.  It will build on itself.

-       “Eat, breathe and live your diaper drive.  Every encounter in your neighborhood is a chance to ask for help.  Wear a Diaper Bank pin during the whole drive.  Offer to help other community events (especially charitable efforts) even in a small way – and then ask for those folks to plug the Diaper Drive.  Ask friends and neighbors to donate – and ask them to ask others.  Mention the drive every chance you get.  Be relentless.  It’s for a good cause.”

Ready to Hold a Diaper Drive in YOUR Community?? Check out the Diaper Drive Toolkit for some ideas and get in touch with us at info@dcdiaperbank.org!

The post Diaper Drive Success Story: A Community Rallies Around Diapers appeared first on DC Diaper Bank.

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It seems that diaper donation just makes sense to children.  Most, ages 2-8, either remember wearing diapers themselves or have babies in their lives who are still in diapers.  Young children know that diapers are an item that babies need, and some often care for babies as part of their imaginative play.

To honor our littlest volunteers and to help other families who want to inspire a giving spirit early on, we have put together some quick tips on talking to kids about giving and diaper need. 

It’s never too early to involve kids in fundraising activities, and DCDB is forever encouraged and heartened by little ones helping little ones!

Check out the Diaper Drive page for more info on how to organize a drive at your child’s school, preschool, daycare, scout troop or playgroup!

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