Eliseba Osore, 26, a Baltimore area social worker, was shocked to learn that diapers are not covered under WIC or food stamps. After hearing about Washington, D.C.’s successful diaper bank, she approached the already-thriving, Baltimore-based baby supply drive ShareBaby—which was started by three local moms, Kristin Finkelstein, Maya Ammons and Kate Mumaw, back in 2014—about adding a diaper bank arm to their operations. As fate would have it, another Baltimore local, Kate Byrden, 33, was also pitching the same idea.
“We launched DiaperSHARE in August and have since donated [nearly 23,000] diapers across the city,” Osore says. Twice a month, with the help of donations and volunteers, the team behind DiaperSHARE packages up 50 diapers per child, per shelter, and sends them off during the third week of every month, “keeping in mind that families who receive finacial assistance are usually experiencing the most strife towards the end of the month.” ShareBaby accepts both unopened and open packs of (unused) diapers.
Their next big diaper packaging day is Thursday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Anyone interested can sign up to attend through the organization’s website. “It’s a lot of fun. We package up the diapers in sets of 50 and share the facts with all who come out.” People can also donate diapers and other supplies through the non-profit’s Amazon wish list.
Since Osore, the only one without a child of her own, joined the team, she’s moved up in the ranks from director of DiaperSHARE to executive director of the entire organization. “Our goal is to grow wide and serve more and more organizations,” says Osore.
ShareBaby currently serves seven different shelters, including House of Ruth, Light House Shelter and Turn Around. “We recognize this a very widespread need across the city,” Osore said. “Our requests are only increasing. Children deserve to have the things that they need to be happy and secure.”
