Oswego County Early Childhood Alliance Celebrates Major Milestone

OSWEGO COUNTY – The Oswego County Early Childhood Alliance (OCECA) announces a major milestone for its Oswego County Diaper Bank – more than 50,000 diapers have been distributed to local families since the program launched on June 17, 2024!

“Reaching this milestone would not have been possible without the support of our incredible community partners, donors and volunteers throughout Oswego County,” said OCECA coordinator Sidney Carter. “To date, nearly 30,000diapers have been donated through local diaper drives, businesses and individual supporters.”

The occasion is particularly meaningful because it addresses a fundamental issue for many families in Oswego County – diaper insecurity.

“The inability to afford diapers creates challenges that extend far beyond the changing table,” Carter explained. “People are often surprised to learn that they cannot be purchased with SNAP or WIC benefits, leaving many families with few options when finances are tight. Adding to that, most child care providers require families to supply diapers, meaning parents without enough diapers may be unable to leave their children in care and, in turn, unable to work.”

According to 2026 data from the National Diaper Bank Network, 40% of families report experiencing diaper need within the past year with many having to skip paying another bill in order to purchase diapers. In addition, families experiencing diaper insecurity are 21 times more likely to miss work because they cannot provide the diapers requiredfor child care.

“The impact on the health of these children is equally concerning,” she added. “Without an adequate supply of clean diapers, children face an increased risk of diaper rash, urinary tract infections and other preventable health issues.”

Diaper need also contributes to increased caregiver stress, which research has linked to a higher risk of child maltreatment, making the need to address this issue especially important.

The Oswego County Diaper Bank provides families with an emergency supply of up to 50 diapers per child each month.

Families receiving diapers are also connected with the Oswego County Help Me Grow Program to discuss additionalneeds, developmental concerns and other available community resources. The program helps ensure that families who need ongoing support are connected with support services and mentoring programs that can provide longer-term assistance.

“Because transportation is often a barrier for families in rural communities, OCECA has worked to make diaperaccess as convenient as possible,” Carter said. “Through our partnerships with ConnextCare, Catholic Charities, Erin’s Angels and other community organizations, families can pick up diapers at multiple locations throughout the county.”

The diaper bank was created after OCECA identified a significant gap in services while launching the Oswego County Help Me Grow Program in 2024. At the time, there were no countywide resources dedicated to helping families experiencing diaper need.

It was initially funded in part through a $15,000 grant from the Richard S. Shineman Foundation in April 2024. Morethan two years later, that investment continues to sustain the initiative in addition to the community’s generosity.

Among the many contributions, was a Pulaski High School senior who collected more than 4,000 diapers as the finale of her community service project (read Madilyn Ives story here).

Also, an Oswego County Integrated Community Planning of Oswego County board member transformed her personal tragedy into an act of community support by requesting diaper donations in lieu of flowers following her husband’s unexpected passing (watch the Pierce family’s story here). This donation provided more than 10,000 diapers for local families.

Families in need of diapers can call 315-343-2344, ext. 113. To schedule an appointment with Oswego County Help Me Grow and learn about other available resources, go to https://calendly.com/oswegocountyeca-icpoc/30min.

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About Oswego County Help Me Grow:

This program connects families with young children to local resources, developmental screenings, parenting supportand other community services. Through a network of trusted partners, it works to ensure that every child and family has the support they need to thrive before the start of kindergarten.