Mothers for Others is Fairfield County’s largest independent diaper bank. Through their work, they provide diapers to families in the community that are experiencing diaper need. Diapers are distributed to families through a network of human service agency partners in Greenwich, Stamford, Darien and Norwalk, at community distribution events and to first time clients at their Greenwich office. Since 2016, they have provided over one million diapers to families in need.
Greenwich Lifestyle caught up with Mothers for Others' founder and co-president, Karen Giannuzzi, who shared their mission as a group and the importance of helping the community.
GL: What is your vision for MFO?
Our vision is to help families in Fairfield County who are struggling to meet their children’s basic needs. The cost to diaper one child for one year is approximately $1,000 and diapers are not covered by any government assistance. Our goal is to ensure that every child in our community has what they need to be clean, dry and healthy.
GL: Why and how was Mothers for Others started?
I founded Mothers for Others back in 2011 when I organized a holiday coat drive for Family Centers. With the help of my friends and family, Mothers for Others grew into a volunteer-based organization where the majority of our volunteers are mothers living in Greenwich. That first year, we held a clothing and equipment drive for over 100 people and began collecting gently used baby clothing and baby equipment on an ongoing basis. Parents and caregivers could shop our volunteer-staffed donation room for items they needed for their babies and toddlers. By 2016, we knew that many families who came to the donation room were also struggling to afford diapers. In order to address this unmet need, we added a diaper bank inside the donation room. We now only distribute diapers and wipes.
GL: What is your role in the community?
Collaboration and outreach are the main ways we operate within the community. We distribute diapers primarily through a network of human service agencies including Neighbor to Neighbor, Family Centers, Greenwich Department of Health and Human Services, Person to Person, Inspirica, Malta House, and Children’s Learning Center. We also work with Kids in Crisis and YWCA Domestic Abuse Services to provide diapers on an as-needed basis to families placed in emergency housing and with Jewish Family Services of Greenwich to provide diapers to refugee families in their resettlement program. We recently formed a new partnership with Filling in the Blanks and distribute diapers at their mobile food pantry on Saturdays in Stamford.
Our network of agency partners allows us to keep a pulse on the needs of the families in our area and creates an efficient model to reach as many families as we can. It also allows families to receive diapers in the same place where they are already receiving food, counseling or other services.
Once every quarter, Mothers for Others volunteers go to affordable housing complexes such as Wilbur Peck and set up a pop-up diaper bank in the parking lot. These community diaper distributions allow us to provide thousands of diapers within a couple hours and reach families experiencing diaper need directly where they live.
GL: Where can people donate?
We love when people hold diaper drives to collect diapers. About 30% of our diaper inventory comes directly from diaper donations! Many local preschools, school organizations and businesses have held diaper drives on our behalf - those that have held them this past year include: North Street School, First Presbyterian Preschool, YWCA, Temple Shalom, Old Greenwich School, Putnam Indian Field School, Bridges Nursery School, St. Paul’s Preschool, Bright Horizons, Brunswick School, Children’s Day School, First Congregational Church Preschool, Greenwich Bank and Trust, Prosek Partners,, Sacred Heart, and St. Saviours.
Since 2016, Mothers for Others has provided over one million diapers to families in need.
Mothers for Others accepts diaper donations, but encourages monetary donations as a way to make an even bigger impact. Donations allow them to purchase diapers at wholesale prices and ensure they have all sizes well stocked.
To learn more about holding a diaper drive or to make a donation visit: www.mothersforothers.org or email info@mothersforothers.org.