Diaper Research

• In Berkshire County, 3,000 children qualify for one of three WIC* Programs (Pittsfield, North Adams, Great Barrington) and dietary insufficiency usually goes along with diaper need.

• Families for whom seasonal employment may drop off, or who may incur a large financial setback (i.e. car repairs, medical bills) may be temporarily unable to afford diapers.

• Diaper need has been correlated with significant depression in parents, and with potential physical health and mental health issues for their children.

• The BCDP has established multiple liaisons with community organizations to reach Berkshire families who are in need of this support.

• We also educate community members about this generally hidden dilemma: parents who cannot afford diapers are often too ashamed to let anyone know about their difficulty.

  *WIC Stands for The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children

One mother’s Story

“I was 18 when I gave birth to my first son. It was the year that I experienced some of the worst economic hardships I’d ever known. After paying all my bills, I had about $35 a week left. I often went hungry.  I was living in extreme poverty and doing my best to raise my son on my own. These times were humiliating. The stress I felt when it came time to buy diapers was overwhelming. And when you have a fast-growing baby, diaper sizes can change in a week. If you don’t have money to buy the right size, well, that’s just too bad.”