INSPIRATION
Rachel incorporated Beantown Baby Diaper Bank for non-profit status in 2018 and to date has donated more than 600,000 diapers to support local families in need .
Beantown Baby Diaper Bank is like a food bank but for diapers . Diapers are not covered by federal or state government assistance , and a common misconception is that WIC or SNAP ( nutrition-based programs ) help pay for diapers .
“ I try to convey why a diaper is so much more than ‘ just ’ a diaper ,” says Rachel . Simply put — a lot of life can ’ t happen for a family without an adequate supply of clean , disposable diapers . Diaper need impacts the physical , mental and economic wellbeing of children and parents .
Without access to diapers , parents cannot work , children cannot go to daycare and other challenges develop . Prolonged use of a soiled diaper can lead to severe diaper rash or infections , and it can also cause a baby to cry for extended periods of time which significantly increases the stress on the parent or caregiver and can lead to depression .
Rachel partners with local organizations to store and distribute the diapers . The
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I love being called the ‘ diaper lady ’ because that tells me that people associate me with raising awareness about diaper need . Starting a nonprofit , let alone a diaper bank , was not something I ever would have envisioned myself doing . But I quickly learned that I had a real passion for this particular cause because I couldn ’ t imagine having to feel worried and stressed about having enough clean diapers for my own babies , and that I had the ability to actually do something about it .
— Rachel Segaloff
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