Diaper Drives - They're Easy as Pie!

Diaper drives are a great way to divert unwanted diapers from the landfill and get them in the hands of those who need them. They are also a great community-building activity for schools, workplaces and friends. 

We are always looking for more people to host these essential drives! 

We want to give a shoutout to some of our outstanding community members who have recently hosted diaper drives:

Sara Steffen hosts an annual holiday diaper drive party: 

“Hosting a diaper drive is so easy and it’s a great way to get my kids involved in something charitable at the holidays.  Our friends say they look forward to our diaper drive party as a way to kick off the holiday season.”
 

Diablo Valley Montessori School hosts an annual diaper drive at their preschool:

“The Diaper Drive is such a tangible way to give back to local families in need.”
 

Alex Kern coordinates a corporate virtual diaper drive:

“Our fully remote team does a virtual diaper drive during our Season of Giving.  HAMO makes it super easy with an Amazon wishlist, which ships directly to the partner agencies.”
 

Amy Giachetti invites friends/family to send diapers to her house:

“When my kids were little, I started to reach out to other parents to see if I could find extra diapers for families in need.   The tradition has continued and evolved. My now teenagers love to participate in the drive.”

We Made the (Giving) List!

As you know, the Bay Area is home to thousands of nonprofits. The Giving List team consulted with leaders across philanthropy, financial services and philanthropic advising to determine which organizations should be highlighted - and we are so excited to have made the list! 

We’d love for you to check out our Giving List spread (find it here). It tells the story of our current work, and includes inspiring quotes from clients and supporters alike. In addition to the web version, we have 25 print copies of the Giving List to share with our supporters. If you would like us to send you a print version, please email emily@helpamotherout.org with your name and mailing address.

In the spirit of giving, we also wanted to share Help a Mother Out’s 2nd annual Giving Guide! Below, you will find a collection of Bay Area nonprofits that are near and dear to our staff member’s hearts. If you have resources to spare and are looking for a place to share them, read on for some inspiration!

Lisa Truong, Founder, and Executive Director, supports VETS (Veterans Exploring Treatment Options), a national organization dedicated to ending the veteran suicide epidemic by providing resources, research, and advocacy for U.S. military veterans seeking psychedelic-assisted therapies for traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, and other health conditions. This cause is close to Lisa's heart because she believes all veterans deserve access to life-changing mental health treatments.

Emily, HAMO’s Chief of Staff and Board Liaison, supports Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco. Senior dogs land in shelters for a variety of reasons, and all too often they get overlooked. Having recently lost he own senior pooch, Emily supports Muttville's belief that all dogs deserve love and no dog should spend his final years in an overcrowded shelter - they have so much joy and love left to give!

Kristen, HAMO's Program Director, supports Conard House In San Francisco. Conard House specializes in Supportive Housing and Mental Health Services. They offer supportive housing to more than 700 people in San Francisco. In the last two years, Conard House has piloted an on-site food kiosk to combat food insecurity with fresh meals, food and vouchers, and a pet support program so that 80 companion animals can bring comfort to clients who are then assisted with access to pet supplies, pet food, training and veterinary care.

Tennema, HAMO's Senior Program Coordinator, supports the Oakland-based organization Root & Rebound. Root & Rebound helps to support individuals navigating reentry and reduce the harms perpetuated by mass incarceration. This organization is special to Tennema as it works with individuals to fight for racial and gender equity, justice, and collective liberation.

Elizabeth, HAMO's Community Engagement Coordinator, supports RJOY in Oakland. This organization provides resources and safe spaces for young men and women in the Oakland community focusing on restorative justice circles and giving the youth a chance to feel seen and heard. Having experienced and witnessed the effects of the school-to-prison pipeline on youth of color, Elizabeth supports their deep-rooted restorative justice and trauma healing practices. It's so wonderful to witness the growth and healing in our community.

Between the Giving List and our Giving Guide, we hope you find some inspiration. Wishing you and yours a safe and joyful holiday season!

Season’s wishes, 

Emily Knight

Cheif of Staff and Board Liaison

P.S. We are 75% of the way to our ambitious $250,000 year-end goal. Thank you to all those who have donated so far! For everyone else, there’s still time - check out our website for more information on how to support our community.  

A Timely Update

Hi HAMO Friends,

Most days, my time is spent focusing on the numbers, but I always stay focused on the larger goal, remembering why it is we do what we do. As a mother myself, I was shocked to learn that diapers are not considered a necessity and therefore are not part of the social safety net (WIC and SNAP, food stamps, etc. do not allow for diapers). This is my WHY, the reason that I support Help a Mother Out and the reason I am reaching out to you today.

My name is Mitra Rezvan, and I have had the honor of serving on the Help a Mother Out Board of Directors for the past 5 years, in the role of Treasurer. Over the last several years, the organization has been focused on sustainable expansion in an effort to meet the growing needs of our community.  However, due to increased costs, increased needs, and uncertain funding, we have had no choice but to make signifiant reductions to our program.

Here at Help a Mother Out, we are in the business of saying “Yes”, and so saying “No”, and so these reductions are especially painful. To ensure that we can get diapers to the families who need them most, we have set an ambitious fundraising goal of $250,000, and I need your help to help make this goal a reality. 

As Treasurer of the Board, I can assure you that:

• Your gift will be used wisely. At Help a Mother Out, we are good stewards of your money. In fact, for every $1 we spend on programming, we put $2 back into the community.  

• You can make an impact on the lives of our neighbors in need. Clean diapers reduce the risk of infectious disease outbreaks, improve baby’s health and comfort, and enable baby’s participation in early care and education programs. Help a Mother Out is working towards a world in which every baby has access to clean diapers, and your gift matters.

As 2024 approaches, I ask you to join me in supporting this wonderful organization. When you give a gift to Help a Mother Out, you are giving the greatest gift of all -- hope.

In Community,

Mitra Rezvan

Treasurer, HAMO Board of Directors

National Diaper Bank Network Releases 2023 Survey Results

The NDBN Diaper Check 2023: Diaper Insecurity among U.S. Children and Families

a nationally representative study commissioned by the National Diaper Bank Network

Released June 15, 2023

Source: The NDBN Diaper Check 2023. For the complete Study,
go to their website.

The National Diaper Bank Network just released the results from a 2023 study on diaper need, and they are unfortunately not surprising: Diaper need has increased sharply for families across the US.
We know that having enough diapers opens doors for families: children can gain access to critical early education opportunities, and parents can go back to work to earn much-needed income. Here is a brief summary of NDBN’s major findings:

Diaper need has increased sharply.

47% (almost half) of families reported diaper need in 2023. In the first diaper need investigation in 2010 and in several subsequent studies, approximately 33% or 1/3 of families reported diaper need.

Diaper need forces families to cut back on other essentials.

46% of families reported reducing other expenditures to afford diapers, with most of those households cutting back in multiple areas. The most common cutback was entertainment outside the home (56%). Other common areas for cutbacks included food (35%) and utilities (19%).

Diaper need is associated with stress and worry.

70% of the respondents reporting diaper need said that they were stressed or anxious about their responsibilities as a parent or caregiver. 53% said they felt judged as a bad parent/caregiver because they could not afford diapers.

Diaper need is widespread and cuts across income levels.

Among families with diaper need, 66% were categorized as low income, 28% as middle income, and 6% as high income.

Diaper need impacts daily life.

Families with diaper need reported more instances of unmet health needs; stress and anxiety; limitations on free time and social contact; and barriers to work.

Diaper need intersects with food insecurity.

More than a quarter of respondents (28%) who reported diaper need said that they skipped meals so that they could afford more diapers.

Diaper need results in parents missing work and losing wages.

1 in 4 (25%) of parents and caregivers with diaper need reported having to miss work or school because they did not have enough diapers to drop their child off at childcare, and reported missing, on average, 5.1 workdays in the past 30 days. This represents a loss of $296 per month for a parent earning the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.

Mother’s Day: Give Diapers+ for Ukraine

Check out the USA for UNHCR exclusive interview with our very own, Executive Director, Lisa Truong!

Just in - Challenge Match Announced!

An amazing (anonymous) supporter will match the next $25,000 given, dollar for dollar.  

Give now to automatically DOUBLE your impact!

The match runs from now through Mother’s Day (May 8th). Donate in honor of a mom (or mother figure!) you love, and give the gift of hope to Ukrainian refugees in crisis.

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As you certainly know, the war in Ukraine has upended the lives of millions of people. The UN is reporting that, as of April 19th, more than five million people have left Ukraine; 90% of refugees are women and children. Since the war began, several members of our community have inquired whether HAMO could donate diapers for Ukrainian refugees. Long story short, we did not think we could assist as international aid isn’t in our wheelhouse. We also have our hands full, stateside. *

Then, in March, an acquaintance working at USA for UNHCR (US branch of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) reached out with an ask: Could we donate 100,000 diapers for Ukraine? They offered to take care of logistics and customs. THIS was a game changer, and we said YES. A long-time friend of the cause immediately agreed to underwrite the donation. And, BOOM! We arranged the diaper donation.

Mother’s Day is May 8th. This year we are dedicating proceeds from our Mother’s Day fundraiser to assist Ukrainian mothers and children. Please consider donating to this effort. All monetary donations made through May 31st will be used to procure diapers, period supplies and other essentials and will be donated through USA for UNHCR.

Join the effort:

1. Donate: Make a donation in honor of a mother (or mother figure!) you love, and we’ll send her a swell e-card on your behalf.

2. Host a Fundraiser: A truckload of diapers costs a lot of money. Rally your community by hosting your own fundraiser within our larger one. Use the linked toolkit to get started!

3. Spread the word: Help spread the word! Share our fundraiser, toolkit, emails, and social media posts (Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter).

Three reasons for this “special operation” fundraiser:

1. Our grassroots community wants a way to help Ukraine.

2. Diapers+ will be donated directly through USA for UNHCR.

3. Our U.S. based suppliers also do business in Europe. We hope to source diapers etc. within the E.U. to simplify logistics/keep shipping costs low.

Help a Mother Out has a long-standing history assisting those fleeing violence and oppression, as well as those who simply wish to live with dignity. On a personal level, I’m a proud immigrant; I was born in wartime Saigon and brought to the U.S. as a toddler. This effort runs deep for me, as I know it does for many of you. I hope you will join me in sending a little bit of love and kindness to Ukrainian mothers and children.

In community,
Lisa Truong

Founder and Executive Director

P.S. Please help us get urgently needed diapers and other family essentials to Ukraine by donating or joining our fundraiser today! Your gift will bring hope and change lives!

* Since 2009, our primary focus has been helping our neighbors, stateside. Through our diverse partner network, we get urgently needed diapers to families, including refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, immigrants, and those impacted by natural disasters. This includes recent Afghan refugees, U.S./Mexico border relief, CA wildfires, and mutual aid to diaper banks in CA and beyond. We also recently expanded our SF Diaper Bank to Medi-Cal families. Our programs are open to anyone in need, regardless of immigration status, country of origin or religion.

ICYMI: Our Op-ed in the Mercury News (and other Diaper Need Awareness Updates)

I’m a single mom of two beautiful girls - ages 7 months and 18 months. I am also a recent widow. When I was laid off from my job one month after my husband's passing, I felt lost. I was hopeless. Then, two weeks ago, a friend introduced me to this program, and it offers so many services to me and my babies, including job assistance and enrollment in the diaper program. For the first time in a long time, I feel hope. 

- Jennice, mom of 2

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I am thrilled to share some exciting news with you - the editors at the San Jose Mercury News have been gracious enough to run an op-ed I wrote in support of federal/state public policy solutions to end diaper need. You can read the op-ed here. 

Having my first op-ed published in The Merc is especially meaningful to me, as I grew up reading it. What’s more, it was the first print newspaper to ever write about HAMO. In our founding year (2009), one of their long time columnists (shout out to Ms. Patty Fisher, now retired) took a chance on me after I sent her a rookie press release.

In conjunction with National Diaper Need Awareness Week, please consider sharing the op-ed on social media or by forwarding it to like minded folks. (Sample text below.)

Share on social (copy/paste): 
Support your local diaper bank. It’s life changing for babies via @MercNews @helpamotherout (https://bit.ly/HAMO21 ).

I truly believe real change comes from the bottom up. We appreciate your advocacy and continued support in ensuring more babies have the diapers they need to be healthy, clean and dry.

In Community,

Lisa Truong

Founder and Executive Director

P.S. In case you missed it, I was interviewed last week by Nikki Medoro for the KGO 810 Morning Show! Check out the interview here to find out more about what we’re up to!

Crib Notes

More California babies covered: Say THANK YOU to lawmakers

This past summer California legislators and Governor Newsom approved the addition of $30 million in diaper bank funding to the state’s budget. We are incredibly grateful to all of YOU, who collectively advocated with Help a Mother Out (“HAMO”) in support of working families. The funds have been allocated to new and existing diaper programs throughout the state (FY 22-24). Grantees include HAMO (San Francisco Bay Area), and regional food banks operating in the Redwood Empire, Sacramento, Fresno, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and Inland Empire. 

This is a HUGE win for the cause and it would not have happened without your grassroots support!

Will you join us in contacting Governor Newsom and your CA legislators to thank them for their leadership and support of diaper bank funding? Check out this handy toolkit for two super easy ways to say “thanks”!

• Thank CA budget leadership and the governor on social media

• Send an email thanking your local state representatives

Ready to Take the Next Step?

We have some awesome (and safe!) volunteer events on the horizon (specifically, 2 upcoming in the SF area). If you want to volunteer with HAMO, or just want to know more about our work, fill out our interest form!It takes just a few seconds, but can have a huge impact!

We are stronger when we come together.

Diaper Daddies - Challenge Accepted!

During last Tuesday’s episode of Watch What Happens Live, Andy Cohen challenged his friend and fellow dad, Anderson Cooper to a round of Diaper Daddies. Each dad was given 45 seconds to change as many diapers as possible. Who do you think won?! Check out this video to find out.

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Over 33 million diapers distributed
since our founding in 2009!

Don't Buy Into This Myth

Hi, this is Lisa. I don’t normally chime in on this channel with things personal in nature, but today is an exception. What is true for me? I believe that despite coming from different backgrounds and life experiences, WE are ALL interconnected and interdependent. 

.

As a Vietnamese American who came to the U.S. before I was two, and as someone who has experienced racism and misogyny (both explicit and subtle forms) throughout my entire life, I am compelled to speak out against anti-Asian hate. 

.

What we are collectively experiencing are the consequences of xenophobic rhetoric that has been normalized in recent years. 

.

Please consider:

1) The “model minority” is a myth created to divide non-white people against each other. Please don’t buy into this myth. People of Asian descent are not a monolith group. The AAPI community is diverse in socioeconomic class, language, faith and culture. Fundamentally speaking, when we choose to “other” another group of people, it becomes easier to see folks different from us as subhuman. There are many instances in human history where this went terribly wrong, including our current circumstances.

2) What happened in the Atlanta area and the anti-Asian violence that is surging across our country is wrong. Do not excuse the murder of six women of Asian descent and two white people. Their personal histories, such as whether they were employed as service workers or worked illegally in the sex trade, should not be a barrier for any one of us to feel empathy for them and their family members left behind. Their lives mattered to someone. They did not deserve to die. They died as a consequence of our nation’s deep-seated issues including white supremacy, misogyny and classism. .

3) There is a lot going on in our society that is not right. It is easy for us to get stuck in one existential crisis after another. The good news is that WE have the ability to change some things. No; we can’t change other people, especially those who choose to live in a fear-based reality or commit violence against other people. But WE CAN control ourselves. Let’s commit to listen to each other more, to do our inner work (i.e. flexing our empathy muscle, approaching difference with cultural humility), and to  model for our children a better way of being in the world.

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It is important that all of us, regardless of our racial and cultural backgrounds; education levels; or bank account balance, ALL OF US MUST speak up against racism and xenophobia when and where it matters – both in private conversations and in the public discourse. It will not be easy, but if we are to build a better world for our children, it will be necessary. 

.

In solidarity, 

LT

Advocating for Diaper Bank Funding in the CA State Budget - We Need Your Help!

Help a Mother Out was founded in 2009 when two California moms got mad that diapers weren’t part of the safety net. Since then, we have advanced our mission in two ways: 1) getting urgently needed diapers to as many families as possible; 2) advocating for the inclusion of diapers in social safety net programs.

Today, we have the opportunity to ensure that more California babies have what they need to thrive during these troubling times. Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (District 80) has made a formal budget request of $30 million over three years to fund existing and new diaper bank programs in the state. 

We need your help.

It is vital that this proposed funding gets included in the state budget so that organizations like HAMO can continue to meet more of the needs of more California babies and families. We need your help to make this a reality.

Please contact your CA Assemblymember and Senator and ask them to formally sign on to Asm. Lorena Gonzalez’s formal budget request to include diapers in the state budget. The more members who sign on, the more compelling it will be for CA legislators to consider this crucial request. Instructions:

We have compiled all of the information you need into one easy to use spreadsheet that you can find here (http://bit.ly/hamolegislation). Instructions are included on this spreadsheet, also listed below:

1. Find your CA State Senator and Assemblymember

2. Contact your CA Assemblymember and Senator by EMAIL/PHONE (click for suggested script)

3. Contact Governor Newsom by EMAIL/PHONE (click here for contact info and here for suggested script)

4. Write postcards to Gov. Newsom & your CA legislators DISTRICT OFFICE. You are free to use your own postcards or request free HAMO postcards. (Click here for suggested postcard script)

   • Use this link to ask for HAMO postcards to be sent to you

5. If you receive a response, let us know (emily@helpamotherout.org)!

6. If your legislator is marked GREEN on this spreadsheet, they support diaper bank funding. Please THANK THEM (email, phone, postcard)!

7. Use Facebooks’ Town Hall feature to easily find and contact your state legislator

   • suggested scripts for legislators can be found here

8. If you’re a Facebook user, post this on your Facebook page to garner support

You can help spread the word by forwarding this to your network. You’ll be shocked to learn that every single phone call, email and mailed postcard makes a difference.  

Diaper Need Awareness Week - What's Going On?

"Yes, I desperately need diapers and wipes. I have been using cloth diapers that I made from bed sheets and washing their buttocks. I am sorry I am telling you this, it is embarrassing that my babies are in this situation, but I can't take it any longer."

 ~ Mom in San Francisco (Summer 2020)

This week (September 21st to September 27th) is Diaper Need Awareness Week. In recognition, here’s a quick field update!

One of the amazing agencies we have been able to support through our COVID-19 Rapid Response diaper donations is Homies Empowerment. They operate the FREEDOM Store in east Oakland, where Bay Area residents can shop for free food and toiletries (open every Tuesday). #ItTakesaBarrio!

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We recently donated 1,000 cases of diapers to the Child Parent Institute(Sonoma County). They are helping families negatively impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and the wildfires ravaging Northern California. Check out this heartfelt video they made to thank us!

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With the “new normal”, we have turned to drive-thru giveaways to get more diapers to more families safely. This month, we partnered with Baby Basics of the Peninsula (East Palo Alto) for their inaugural drive-thru event, distributing 1,000 diaper cases. More drive-thru distributions are in the works. Our next one is Saturday, October 3rd in San Francisco (Bayview/Hunters Point). Email emily@helpamotherout.org for volunteer opportunities.

Together, we are making a difference in the lives of our neighbors in need. We appreciate you, particularly through all of the challenges that 2020 has brought for our country and our community.

"Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”

~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Crib Notes

Sign Up to Be a Monthly Donor - the Gift is on Us!

We are looking for 30 supporters just like you to sign up to be a new monthly donor! Monthly donors sustain our mission and help to guarantee that we can get critically needed diapers to our community. Can we count you in? The first 30 people to sign up to be a monthly donor before October 31st will be eligible to receive a thank you gift from HAMO - the more you give, the more you get!

Sign up at $10/month and we’ll send you three awesome HAMO stickers and a HAMO lip balm.

Sign up at $25/month (or more!) and we’ll send you a swell HAMO branded Yeti mug!

Parenting in Uncertain Times

Back in May, we hosted an intimate talk with the amazing Dr. Allison Briscoe Smith where she spoke to parenting during uncertain times. Some of you have been asking us for additional resources, or if there will be another talk. We have good news! Starting October 1st, Dr. Briscoe Smith is facilitating an online parenting class with small learning groups. To learn more and sign up, click here.

HBS Brainstorming Session

In August we were one of a handful of non profits to participate in Harvard Business School Community Partners (Northern California) brainstorming session. Special thanks to HAMO Leadership Circle Member and HBS alumna, Annie Myers, for facilitating this amazing opportunity for HAMO!

Current Events

Diaper Need in the News: How to Help Parents Who Are Struggling to Provide for Their Kids (NY Times)

Neighborhood Diaper Donation Program

We are still looking for local community heroes to offer up their homes as contactless diaper drop-off sites. If you are interested in learning more, email emily@helpamotherout.org.

Donation of Other Essential Items

As the pandemic continues, we have expanded distributions to include baby wipes, masks and hand sanitizer.  So far, we have distributed over 1 million baby wipes, 1,200 bottles of hand sanitizer and 750 masks. 

Follow us on Instagram!

If you want to get all of the latest and greatest HAMO updates, be sure to follow us on Instagram. Find us here @helpamotherout!

“Just as someone who did whatever she could, with whatever limited talent she had, to move society along in the direction I would like it to be for my children and grandchildren.” 

~ Ruth Bader Ginsburg {on how she wanted to be remembered}

Diaper Distributions - August 2020

Thanks to our generous community, we have been able to continue distributing critically needed diapers during this time of extremes need. Below is a listing of all agencies who received diaper distributions in August 2020. This list includes HAMO’s core community partners, as well as COVID-19 rapid response partners.

Bay Area Diaper Bank Distributions

• Alameda County Maternal, Paternal, Child, and Adolescent Health (MPCAH) - Department of Public Health

• Contra Costa County Department of Health

• Daly City Community Services

• Fair Oaks Community Center

• Homeless Prenatal Program

• Lincoln

• Oakland Early Head Start

• Oakland Unified School District

• Roots Santa Clara

• St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County

• Sunnyvale Community Services

• Union City Family Center

San Francisco Diaper Bank Distributions

• APA Visitacion Valley

• Bayview Hunters Point YMCA

• Compass Family Services

• OMI Family Resource Center

• San Francisco Housing Authority

• San Francisco H.S.A.

COVID-19 Rapid Relief Program (not a core partner)

• Child Parent Institute (Sonoma County)

• CORA (San Mateo County)

• Homies Empowerment (Alameda County)

• MidPen Housing (Santa Clara County)

• Urban Partners LA (Los Angeles County)

Diaper Distributions - Fiscal Year 2020 (July 2019 to June 2020)

The second half of our fiscal year brought unforeseen challenges as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. Countless families have found themselves facing economic hardship as a result of the ongoing health crisis, and they have struggled to provide even the most basic of needs. Thanks to our generous community, we have been able to continue distributing critically needed diapers during this difficult time. Below is a listing of all agencies who received diaper distributions in Fiscal Year 2020 (from July 2019 to June 2020). This list includes HAMO’s core community partners, as well as COVID-19 rapid response partners.

Bay Area Diaper Bank Distributions

• APA Family Support Services

• Alameda County Maternal, Paternal, Child, and Adolescent Health (MPCAH) - Department of Public Health

• Baby Basics of the Peninsula

• Brighter Beginnings (Antioch)

• Brighter Beginnings (Oakland)

• Brighter Beginnings (Richmond)

• Brilliant Baby - Oakland

• Catholic Charities - Santa Clara County

• Contra Costa County Department of Health

• Daly City Community Services

• Fair Oaks Community Center

• Good Samaritan

• Homeless Prenatal Program

• Lincoln

• New Creation Home Ministries

• Oakland Early Head Start

• Oakland Unified School District

• Room to Bloom

• Roots - Oakland

• Roots - San Jose

• Samaritan House

• San Antonio Family Resource Center

• St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County

• Sunnyvale Community Services

• UCB Pantry

• Union City Family Center

• University Village

• West Valley Community Services

• Wu Yee

San Francisco Diaper Bank Distributions

• APA Visitacion Valley

• Bayview Hunters Point YMCA

• Children’s Council

• Compass Family Services

• OMI Family Resource Center

• San Francisco Housing Authority

• San Francisco H.S.A.

COVID-19 Rapid Relief Program (not a core partner)

• Child Parent Institute (Sonoma County)

• Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties (CC and Solano County)

• Good Plus Foundation (Los Angeles County)

• Her Village, Inc. (the Bronx, NY)

• MidPen Housing (Santa Clara County)

• MoMAGIC (San Francisco County)

• Monument Crisis Center (Contra Costa County)

• Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence (Santa Clara County)

• One Life Counseling Center (San Mateo County)

• Performing Stars (Marin County)

• Reedley Continuation High School (Fresno County)

• Safe and Sound (San Francisco County)

• Safe Passages (Alameda County)

• San Francisco WIC Program (San Francisco County)

• San Lorenzo Unified School District (Alameda County)

• SisterWeb (San Francisco County)

• The Unity Council (Alameda County)

• Welcome Home Baby - AspiraNet (Contra Costa County)

• White Pony Express (Contra Costa County)

• YMCA East Bay (Alameda County)

• YMCA Emeryville (Alameda County)

• YMCA Silicon Valley (Santa Clara County)

• YMCA South San Francisco (San Mateo County)

• Youth Arts Empowerment (Alameda County)

• Youth Uprising (Alameda County)

• ZSFG Pregnant Patients Pantry (San Francisco County)

One-Time Donations to non-core partners (not COVID relief based)

• 4Cs of San Mateo County (San Mateo County)

• BANANAS (Alameda County)

• Bay View Library (San Francisco County)

• Bernal Heights Community Center (San Francisco County)

• Corazon Healdsburg (Sonoma County)

• El Centro de Familia Avenida Walnut (Santa Cruz County)

• Hively - Child Care Links (Alameda County)

• Institute for Human and Social Development (San Mateo County)

• Live Moves (San Mateo County)

• Moms Helping Moms (New Jersey)

• Monterey County Health Department-NFP (Monterey County)

• Palega Recreation Center (San Francisco County)

• Rebel Family Shelter (Santa Cruz)

• San Francisco Black Day of Excellence (San Francisco County)

• San Francisco Black Infant Health (San Francisco County)

• Warm Winter Nights (Contra Costa County)

Diaper Distributions - June 2020

Thanks to our generous community, we have been able to continue distributing critically needed diapers during this time of extremes need. Below is a listing of all agencies who received diaper distributions in June 2020. This list includes HAMO’s core community partners, as well as COVID-19 rapid response partners.

Bay Area Diaper Bank Distributions

• APA Chinatown

• Alameda County Maternal, Paternal, Child, and Adolescent Health (MPCAH) - Department of Public Health

• Brighter Beginnings (Oakland)

• Fair Oaks Community Center

• Good Samaritan

• Homeless Prenatal Program

• Lincoln

• New Creation Home Ministries

• Oakland Early Head Start

• Oakland Unified School District

• Room to Bloom

• San Antonio Family Resource Center

• St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County

• Sunnyvale Community Services

• Union City Family Center

• Wu Yee

San Francisco Diaper Bank Distributions

• APA Visitacion Valley

• Bayview Hunters Point YMCA

• OMI Family Resource Center

• San Francisco Housing Authority

• San Francisco H.S.A.

COVID-19 Rapid Relief Program (not a core partner)

• Her Village, Inc. (the Bronx, NY)

• MoMAGIC (San Francisco County)

• One Life Counseling Center (San Mateo County)

• Performing Stars (Marin County)

• Safe and Sound (San Francisco County)

• San Francisco WIC Program (San Francisco County)

• San Lorenzo Unified School District (Alameda County)

• SisterWeb (San Francisco County)

• ZSFG Pregnant Patients Pantry (San Francisco County)

We are all in this together - June 2020 Update from HAMO

Two things I’ve been thinking deeply about: Why, in the U.S.A., are there so many families who struggle to afford something as basic as diapers? Why do we often feel discouraged about our ability to help improve the lives of our neighbors, those within our local communities who are struggling? On the one hand, the answers are nuanced and complex. On the other hand, the answers are simple: It is never easy to look at ourselves in the mirror. It is comforting (at least in the short term) to believe that someone else is taking care of it - or is better equipped to do so. 

Help a Mother Out was founded on the simple idea that we are all in this together. As a community benefit organization that serves low-income families, a disproportionate number of whom are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), being an ally is in our DNA.

"He used to carry me on his back all the time ... It was like you were up in the sky, like an airplane." - Gianna Floyd
Artwork by Dev Heyrana - check out more of her amazing work here.

Black Lives Matter. George Floyd’s life mattered. So did the lives of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and countless other Black Americans who fell victim to violent expressions of racism.

In this time of grief and uncertainty, we recognize that the inequities in our communities result in individuals and families experiencing poverty (in need of diapers, food, housing, healthcare, education).  This is a direct result of systemic racism.

We are committed to doing the work. In practical terms, HAMO commits to:

• Continue to expand diaper access in communities of color through local partners including Black Infant Health (BIH), the Fatherhood Initiative, and minority-led organizations who are trusted within the communities they serve.

• Conceive and implement an official DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging) policy, so that anti-racist ideals are further embedded within HAMO’s organizational structure and programs, regardless of the future composition of staff, leadership and the board.

• Cultivate a culture of belonging where BIPOC actively participate in our community as donors, volunteers, advocates, staff and board members.

This is a painful time of reckoning for our country. Thank you for doing the work with us. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of so many.  Read on for our Crib Notes.

In solidarity,

Lisa Truong
Founder, Executive Director

“The great force of history comes from the fact that we carry it within us, are unconsciously controlled by it in many ways, and history is literally present in all that we do.”

~ James Baldwin

Crib Notes

We made our goal! Thank you to everyone who donated to our COVID-19 rapid response fundraising campaign. Together we raised $140,400. Since SIP, we have distributed 2,600,843 diapers, thanks to you!

May 2020 distributions: We distributed 742,094 diapers in the month of May! Click here for a list of our distribution partners.

Thank you to core partners, Alameda County Public Health Department! In addition to continuing to serve their existing clients via programs like Nurse Family Partnership and Black Infant Health, they are now also providing diapers to community members who are in quarantine/isolation due to a COVID-19 diagnosis.

Parenting in uncertain times: Thank you to everyone who attended our virtual town hall with Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smithon 5/26. Here is what one of our attendees said: “Thank you for making the space to have this event. I left feeling I learned something new and connected with a great group!” We hope to host similar events later this year. Got ideas? Contact Emily@helpamotherout.org.

Thank you Seven Stills: Thank you to SF based Seven Stills for donating 21 bottles of hand sanitizer. Click here for our IG photo.

Anti-racist resources: 

• Talking About Race (National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian)

• Embrace Race

• How companies and individuals can use Juneteenth to practice active allyship (Fast Company)

• 5 Tips for being an ally (3 minute video, YouTube)

• Understanding my privilege (Tedx, 12 minute video)

• Resources from Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith

African American History:

• The Civil War and Reconstruction Era, 1845-1877 (FREE Yale.edu course)

• African American History: From Emancipation to the Present (FREE Yale.edu course)

Parenting resources:

• How Can I Stay Positive for My Kids When I’m So Overwhelmed? (Greater Good)

• Supporting Children During Coronavirus (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)

Diaper Distributions - May 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we are working tirelessly to meet the needs of our community. Thanks to our generous community, we have been able to continue distributing critically needed diapers during this time of extremes need. Below is a listing of all agencies who received diaper distributions in May 2020. This list includes HAMO’s core community partners, as well as COVID-19 rapid response partners.

Bay Area Diaper Bank Distributions

• APA Chinatown

• Brighter Beginnings (Oakland)

• Catholic Charities Santa Clara

• CCC DOH

• Fair Oaks

• Good Samaritan

• Monument Crisis Center

• OUSD

• Room to Bloom

• Roots Santa Clara

• Safe and Sound

• Safe Passages

• Samaritan House

• San Antonio Family Resource Ctr

• SF Black Infant Health

• Sunnyvale Community Services

• The Unity Council

• Union City Family Center

• White Pony

• Wu Yee

• ZSFG Pregnant Patients Pantry

San Francisco Diaper Bank Distributions

• 1235 Mission

• APA Vis Valley

• Bayview Hunters Point YMCA

• Compass Family Services

• OMI FRC

• San Francisco Housing Authority

• San Francisco H.S.A.

Diaper Distributions - April 2020

As the COVID-19 crisis persists, we are continuing to see surge in diaper need of over 500%. Below is a listing of all agencies who received diaper distributions in April 2020. This list includes HAMO’s core community partners, as well as COVID-19 rapid response partners.

Bay Area Diaper Bank Distributions

• Alameda County Maternal, Paternal, Child, and Adolescent Health (MPCAH) (Department of Public Health)

• Baby Basics of the Peninsula

• Brighter Beginnings Oakland 

• Brighter Beginnings Richmond

• Contra Costa County Health Services - Family, Maternal & Child Health (FMCH) Programs (Public Health Department)

• Daly City Community Service Center

• Fair Oaks 

• Food Bank CCS

• New Creation Home Ministry 

• Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence

• Oakland Early Head Start

• Oakland Unified School District

• Room to Bloom (Oakland)

• Roots Santa Clara 

• Safe and Sound (SF Family Resource Centers)

• San Antonio Family Resource Center

• San Francisco Black Infant Health Program  

• San Francisco Housing Authority

• Sunnyvale Community Services

• Union City Family Center

• University Village 

• YMCA East Bay Emeryville

San Francisco Diaper Bank Distributions

•  170 Otis - Human Services Agency

• Bayview Hunters Point YMCA

• Human Service Agency - Homeless Families Response Network

• OMI Family Resouce Center

•  San Francisco Housing Authority

Why I support Help a Mother Out...

Back in December, before our world changed, I volunteered at a diaper giveaway event hosted by the 4Cs of San Mateo County, with diapers provided by Help a Mother Out (“HAMO”). When I arrived, I was immediately struck by the line of waiting families stretching around the block, braving the cold and early hour for diapers. Throughout the morning, I heard many stories of struggle: to make ends meet, to piece together the full supply of diapers required by childcare facilities, to juggle competing financial obligations each month (rent, food, transportation, diapers).

Families waiting in line for diapers at a Help a Mother Out diaper giveaway event in Redwood City.

What I reflect on now that our world has changed: these families are our friends, our neighbors and vital community members. If you are like me, you are being asked to give to many causes throughout the country during this time of uncertainty. I choose to support HAMO, because this is my community, and I want to support my neighbors.

Today, the families we serve are seeing their health and livelihoods disproportionately impacted by COVID-19: school closures, social isolation, unemployment/reduced work hours, and basic needs shortages.

A BIG THANK YOU to all who have already made a financial contribution to HAMO in the last month. Our Annual Tea fundraiser is not occurring this year, which is devastating to our bottom line now that our community needs our support more than ever.  It is our hope that you will support our COVID-19 relief campaign, and encourage others to join you. As you can see, we are on our way! As of the date of this email, we have raised over $43,000. That puts us at about 35% of goal. 

We need your help closing the gap. Here’s how:

• Host a virtual fundraiser: Use our toolkit for a super easy setup! 

  • Invite your friends and family to join you

  • Donate your Mother’s Day

  • Host a fundraiser in honor of a mother (or mother figure) you love

• Donate: Make a personal financial contribution 

• Spread the word about HAMO’s rapid response to COVID-19

With many thanks for your continuing support,

Meghan Crowell

Chair - Tea Host Committee and Board Member 

On behalf of the HAMO staff and board

Diaper Distributions - March 2020

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, we are expecting to see surge in diaper need of over 500%. We have already seen a huge increase in the number of diapers we are distributing, as our partner agencies are asking for more diapers to meet the growing demand. Below is a listing of all agencies who received diaper distributions in March 2020. This list includes HAMO’s core community partners, as well as one time/COVID-19 rapid response partners.

Bay Area Diaper Bank Diaper Distributions

• Alameda County MPCAH

• Brighter Beginnings, Oakland

• Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County

• Homeless Prenatal Program (San Francisco)

• Child Parent Institute (Sonoma County)*

• Daly City Community Services Center

• Oakland Early Head Start

• Fair Oaks Community Center (Redwood City)

• Good Samaritan (San Francisco)

• Room to Bloom (Oakland)

• Roots - Santa Clara

• Safe Passages (Oakland)*

• St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County

• Sunnyvale Community Services (Santa Clara County)

• UCB Pantry (Berkeley)

• Union City Family Services Center (Alameda County)

• YMCA SF*

• Youth Uprising (Oakland)*

San Francisco Diaper Bank

• Bayview YMCA

• OMI FRC

• Compass

• Mission Workforce Center

• Children’s Council

• APA Visitacion Valley

• 1235 Mission

• SFHSA Otis

• Bayview YMCA

• 1800 Oakdale

• Children’s Council

• Compass

• OMI FRC

• SFHSA Otis

California Diaper Bank

• Good Plus Foundation (Los Angeles County)*

  *one time donation or COVID-19 rapid response

Open Letter: Help us stop the unauthorized resale of ELO Baby® Diapers

Dear Community Member,

Help a Mother Out provides high-quality diapers to families in need, always free of charge. Our work is only more essential during this crisis, when the most vulnerable members of our community are being disproportionately impacted.

Unfortunately, we have recently become aware that our ELO Baby® diaper products are being sold by individuals, in various places (online and elsewhere).

To be clear, we neither support nor condone the reselling of our products. We are doing everything we can to stop it.

WE NEED YOUR HELP to ensure more families have the essentials they need.

Diaper bank program recipients:

• Please do not take diapers that you do not intend to utilize for your own family.

• Should you no longer need the diapers, for whatever reason, please return them to the service provider you received it from. If that is not possible, we kindly suggest that you give the diapers away, free of charge, to another family in need.

• Help a Mother Out reserves the right to immediately terminate enrollees from our programs should they choose not to adhere to the above. Additionally, we will report the incident to your service provider and, if appropriate, relevant authorities.

Diaper distribution partners:

• We rely on and put a lot of trust in our partners to help us distribute free diapers in the community.  Per our service agreement, please securely store and limit internal access to your inventory.

• We respectfully ask that you message to program recipients that the diapers they receive are not to be used for personal profit (see above).

• Should we become aware of any of your employees facilitating the theft of product, and/or directly or indirectly reselling our products, we will immediately notify your organization’s leadership team and report the incident to the authorities.

Community members:

• If you become aware of an individual or group reselling ELO Baby diapers (online or elsewhere), please notify us by emailing info@helpamotherout.org. Be sure to include relevant information (e.g. screenshots, photos, locations, names, links).

The bottom line is that every diaper misappropriated for personal profit is one less diaper for a member of our community who desperately needs it and cannot afford to buy it. In this time of crisis, it’s more important than ever that we help each other.

Every day, our team comes to work focused on getting urgently needed diapers to as many struggling families as possible. For 11 years we have worked tirelessly, with blood, sweat and MANY tears, to build our grassroots organization from the ground up.

Please do your part to ensure the sustainability of our work.  Our vision remains clear: a day when every baby has access to a healthy supply of diapers. 

In community,

Lisa Truong
Founder, Executive Director

Response to COVID-19: We’re here, you can help

Dear Friends,

The families Help a Mother Out serves will be disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus crisis. We are working with our community partners to anticipate and address the significant increase in diaper need, especially from families who do not receive any form of public assistance, including service employees and undocumented immigrants.

We need your help: Please donate now to ensure more families won’t have to go without diapers during this pandemic.

Each month, we order ONE full truckload (53-foot big rig) of diapers to meet our partners’ needs. For April’s delivery, we need to order TWO truckloads of diapers. Your support today will help ensure we can.

This moment is a reminder that we are all interconnected and interdependent. We sincerely wish you and yours well during this unprecedented time. Thank you for your continued support and friendship. 

In community,

Lisa Truong

Founder, Executive Director

On behalf of the staff, board and families we serve
 

P.S Sadly, due to COVID-19, we are cancelling our Annual Tea (April 25th). As a small but mighty organization, this cancellation is a very big deal to our bottom line. Plan B is in the works, more to come.

Diaper Love Project

Diaper Love Project

A Photographic Series from Help a Mother Out and Christie Hemm Klok

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Caption: Elena and Abby (age 19 mos, diaper size 4) live in San Francisco. They receive diapers from Help a Mother Out.

“I am from Honduras and came to San Francisco two years ago with my husband and two sons. Because of the gangs and violence, we were afraid for our lives — it is very dangerous. That is why we came here.

Soon after we arrived, I got pregnant, and it was a girl. I was so happy! A friend told me about the (Help a Mother Out) diaper program through Wu Yee Children's Services. It helps me a lot because I don't have to spend money on diapers for my daughter.

Abby's favorite thing to do, and something that I also enjoy, is going to the park. She likes to run around on the grassy area and chase the pigeons. There are a lot of doggies too, and she likes to run around with them. I would like Abby to graduate from college. I hope and dream my older sons will also graduate.”

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Photo credits: Christie Hemm Klok