United through Motherhood

This nonprofit organization co-founded by one of our members who is now its president, has become a source of free diapers, baby wipes, diaper cream and more to families in southwest Michigan. 

Originally, diapers were collected in individual drives by local faith-based organizations; the YMCA; two service clubs of the St. Joseph High School; and six businesses in Benton Harbor.  With its first grant, from the Jewish Women’s Endowment Fund in South Bend, Indiana, the organization expanded to include four community centers in Berrien County.

It is now a grant-funded all-volunteer organization that hopes to become the first sustainable diaper bank in southwest Michigan.

Donate

To donate to United through  Motherhood, make checks payable to Temple B’nai Shalom and in the memo area note, “United through Motherhood.” Once UTM receives its own 501(3)c this page will be able to accept payments directly. To donate by debit or credit card, contact the Temple office manager at (269) 925-8021.

In the News

Facts

• Eleven years ago there were NINE sustainable diaper banks in the U.S.  Today, there are over 300.  
• The need is so acute that it is estimated that one in three families suffers from diaper insufficiency.  
• A pre-pandemic survey by the nonprofit National Baby Diaper Bank found that 57% of parents admitted to missing ON AVERAGE four days’ work in the prior month due to diaper insufficiency.  
• Parents who receive state or federal assistance are prohibited from using those funds on disposable diapers.  
• To access daycare, parents must provide a minimum of one day’s diapers in advance. 
• Without daycare, parents cannot access jobs or continue their education.
• It costs between $80 to $100/month per baby for baby supplies. 
• Newborns go through 12 diapers/day.  Babies size 1-6 go through 8/day.
• Pull-ups are twice as expensive as diapers.
• Diapers at a “big box” store will vary from $38 to $55 for a month’s supply.  The same diaper supply at a nearby convenience drugstore, for example, will cost from $99-$157. 

United through Motherhood works with:

BANGOR
Intercare Health Network
308 Charles St, Bangor, MI 49013
(855) 869-6900

BERRIEN SPRINGS
Neighbor to Neighbor
9147 US Highway 31, Berrien Springs, MI 49103
(269) 471-7411

COLOMA
Hope Resources
262 N. Paw Paw Street, Coloma, MI 49038
(269) 202-6050

EAU CLAIRE
Intercare Health Network
6270 W Main St, Eau Claire, MI 49111
(855) 869-6900

HARTFORD
Holy Family Healthcare
2 East Main Street, Hartford, MI 49057
(269) 621-0011

NILES
Women’s Care Center
621 East Main Street, Niles, MI 49120
(269) 684-4040

UNION PIER / HARBOR COUNTRY
Neighbor by Neighbor
16170 Red Arrow Hwy, Suite C-7, Union Pier, MI 49129
(269) 231-0648

Other community centers are coming on board in 2023.  

• At the Berrien County Health Department, contact Kara Gargano at: kgargano@bchdmi.org or  (269) 983-7111 ext. 5660.  She can arrange for diapers and additional support services for families in need.  For teen parents, both mothers and fathers, contact Kyna King at kking@bchdmi.org or call (269) 363-1422 for the same plus additional support with continuing education.