Reproductive Justice Includes Supporting our Local Diaper Bank
By Nan McKinley
When I received an email in September from Jessica Marchbank (UUCB member and State Programs Director for All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center) about “National Diaper Awareness Week,” I knew we had our own UU Diaper Drive approaching. I know that many of you support our Reproductive Justice Task Force's efforts through our bake sale and other events, and that you know that physically bringing in diapers isn't the most cost effective way to help All-Options. But do you have all the updated information you need to know about donating to the Hoosier Diaper Program? Read on – below is the message from Jessica.
During the month of October, look for our table during coffee hour in Fellowship Hall, where we will have further information about All-Options and ways to donate. You can also add some cash to our jar!
Our Reproductive Justice Task Force would be happy to involve you in our efforts to support All-Options, the Hoosier Abortion Fund, and the UU OWL program (Our Whole Lives: Lifespan Sexuality Education). Recently we also donated to Middle Way House to promote menstrual product justice. You can find info on our task force, and a link to join our email list, under the Justice tab at uubloomington.org. We meet at 7 p.m. in the Library on the 4th Monday of the month, August through May. Joining online via Zoom is also possible for our monthly meeting.
Learn more about how diaper need affects families (video link)
There are many issues which contribute to the diaper problem. The cost is one but also, children are required to have adequate disposable diapers every day they attend daycare. If those are not available, a parent will stay home from work which impacts their finances, so it's a vicious cycle. This and other issues are addressed in a video made by a church youth a few years ago.
—-
It’s National Diaper Awareness Week! In 2023, recognizing diaper need is more important than ever. Just one year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the National Diaper Bank Network released a study showing that nearly half of families with young children struggle to get enough diapers. That’s a huge increase since 2020, and we’ve seen it first-hand at All-Options.
You may wonder why I mention Roe and diaper need together, but they’re more connected than you might think!
In my time at All-Options here in Bloomington, I’ve connected thousands of pregnant Hoosiers to funding and resources for abortion care through our Hoosier Abortion Fund. I’ve also distributed hundreds of thousands of diapers to families in our community through our Hoosier Diaper Program. And I’ve helped the same people with both abortion funding and diapers many, many times.
You might be surprised to learn that about 80% of people who contact the Hoosier Abortion Fund are already parents. And half of parents with young children struggle to get enough diapers to keep their kids clean and dry. The need for diapers is growing so fast that our Hoosier Diaper Program can barely keep up. But you can help!
With a donation of just $28 to our Hoosier Diaper Program, you can provide diapers to one family for a whole month. Set your donation frequency to “monthly” to help the littlest Hoosiers all year!
Barriers to abortion and lack of parenting support fall hardest on people who are most marginalized – people of color, queer and trans people, immigrants, and people struggling to make ends meet. EVERY person should be able to make the decisions that are right for them, not just the wealthy and resourced. No one should go broke trying to take care of themselves or their family.
Every week, through both the abortion fund and the diaper program, Hoosiers tell us that we have eased their burden and treated them with dignity and compassion.
Thank you for being part of the All-Options community and helping us build a more compassionate world, where everyone has the freedom to make their own reproductive decisions and the support to back them up.
In solidarity,
Jessica Marchbank
State Programs Director