Our Story

The Nation’s 1st Diaper Bank

The Diaper Bank movement began in 1994 when Resolve Inc., a consulting firm in Tucson, Arizona, initiated a holiday diaper collection for a local crisis nursery. Over the years, their efforts expanded significantly, reaching a milestone of collecting 300,000 diapers for 30 community agencies by 1999. Initially operating under the Carondelet Foundation, the Diaper Bank became an independent charitable organization in 2000, marking the birth of the nation’s first Diaper Bank.

In 1999, Eileen Rogers and Allegra Marketing founded the Baby Diaper Drive in Phoenix, benefiting Homeward Bound, a transitional housing facility aiding families affected by domestic violence or homelessness. By 2012, this drive had gathered 400,000 diapers, exceeding Homeward Bound’s needs and prompting donations to other Central Arizona nonprofits. Inspired by this success, Ginger Clayton, along with Elontec, launched the Diaper Bank of Central Arizona in 2012, becoming Phoenix’s inaugural diaper bank.

Following Arizona’s lead, the New Haven Diaper Bank adopted a similar model in 2004, catalyzing the establishment of over 225 diaper banks nationwide.

In 2013, the Arizona Diaper Bank joined forces with the National Diaper Bank Network as a Regional Partner. This partnership, bolstered by contributions from organizations like Huggies, has been pivotal in our mission to eliminate diaper need in our region.

In May 2022, the Diaper Bank of Southern Arizona merged with the Diaper Bank of Central Arizona, expanding our reach, and becoming the statewide Arizona Diaper Bank. We are proud to have distributed over 20 million diapers and incontinence briefs in 30 years, benefiting over 600,000 individuals.

Our unique approach combines targeted product distribution with strategic partnerships, ensuring efficient delivery while empowering individuals and families toward self-sufficiency. Collaborating with 55 local partner agencies enables decentralized distribution, reaching clients in their communities and minimizing operational costs.