If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us walk together. – Lila Watson
This month DC Diaper Bank turns 2! When we began this journey to help families and babies I don’t think any of us thought we would accomplish so much in such a short period. I’m not going to say it was beyond our imagining, but this persistent voice kept saying, “baby steps, it takes time, aim high but plan small.” But that voice never counted on you and the incredible outpouring of support, dollars, diapers, and ideas that you all have shared. The quote from Lila Watson above has been bouncing around my head the last few days as I think about our birthday. I first read it in the office of Elizabeth Workman, Deputy Director at Fair Chance. When we began DC Diaper Bank people asked us, “How will this work?” They highlighted that we had no money just a good idea. Our response was simple: people will help. What we have learned in this last two years is that people didn’t just help us – they walked with us.
And on our birthday I can’t think of a more appropriate gift to receive than the chance to tell you how grateful we are.
Thank you for organizing local diaper drives all over the metro area at day cares and schools, at businesses and festivals, at birthday parties and baby showers.
Thank you for talking about us at the gym, at happy hours, in your office, at parent groups, playgrounds, and cocktail parties, at grocery stores and everywhere else – we have lost count of the number of times we’ve received phone calls and emails that start off with “I just heard about you from a friend and had to donate…”
Thanks for sending Facebook messages of support – your “likes” keep us going some days.
Thank you for emailing hundreds of emails that started out with some variation of, “I’m not sure how I can be of service, but I would like to get involved…”
Thanks for understanding the importance of providing diapers – for understanding the immediate short-term impact and the long-term impact on the life of a family and a baby.
Thank you for embracing our Distribution Partners and reaching out to us to see what else they could use and donating your little hearts out!
Thank you for dreaming as big as we have and getting us there!
So what are our milestones at 2?
– Over 250,000 diapers donated to families in DC, MD, and VA – that’s 342 diapers a day!
– Every month 20,000 diapers are distributed to more than 500 babies in our region.
– A robust network of 15 Diaper Distribution Partners
– 71 diaper drives, including 8 birthday diaper drives, and two baby shower drives
We can’t wait to see what Year 3 will bring as we walk together!
Corinne Cannon, Founder and Executive Director