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In Portland, Oregon, a significant number of adults and seniors face daily challenges due to incontinence, a condition that can transform an ordinary necessity into a financial burden.
At Select Home Care Portland, we are keenly aware of the challenges older adults and their families face in regards to managing incontinence as many of our clients require our assistance with this daily personal care activity.
Key Takeaways:
*Diaper banks provide crucial support by supplying diapers and incontinence products to those in need.
*Relies on donations and volunteers to aid low-income families and seniors.
*Supplies distributed through partner agencies; community contributions of time, money, or supplies are encouraged.
With the cost of incontinence products running high—necessitating between 120 to 240 diapers per month for just one person—the expense can quickly become overwhelming.
Fortunately, Portland is home to a dedicated diaper bank and crucial partner resources designed to support those who struggle to afford these essential products. If you live in the Portland, Oregon metro area, this guide offers all the information you need about your local diaper banks.
What Are Diaper Banks?
A diaper bank is a non-profit organization (NGO) that operates with the primary purpose of making diapers available to people who need diapers but can’t afford them. These organizations are dedicated to addressing the prominent and escalating issue of diaper need.
They’re basically like food banks, but with diapers and adult incontinence supplies.
As they’re non-profit, those who run and work in diaper banks are volunteers who don’t receive any monetary benefits. Additionally, contrary to popular belief, the government doesn’t fund these organizations.
So where do diaper banks get the finances to provide diapers to seemingly millions of people?
The answer is donations. Diaper banks accept donations from individuals or institutions, be it in the form of money or diapers.
From there, they distribute diapers to social service organizations and partner agencies who then give them to people in need of diapers enlisted in their social programs. This ensures that the resources reach those who need them the most.
More than 225 diaper banks are available across the US, connected via the NBDN (National Diaper Bank Network) which was established in 2011.
Who Do Diaper Banks Serve?
Diaper banks serve low-income families and individuals who can’t meet their diaper and incontinence product needs.
They provide disposable and cloth diapers for babies and children, disposable and cloth baby wipes, as well as all types of adult incontinence supplies. These include adult diapers, pads, briefs, underwear, disposable wash clothes, underpads, cleansing wipes, and more.
That said, it’s important to note that diaper banks don’t provide these supplies directly to people. As we explained above, they give them to social service organizations and partner agencies that distribute them to those in need.
Are There Diaper Banks in Portland, Oregon?
Yes, there are diaper banks in Oregon. Specifically in the Portland metro, you can find the well-established PDX Diaper Bank, which is also an NDBN member.
Further south in Oregon, there’s the Lane County Diaper Bank in Springfield.
What You Need To Know About PDX Diaper Bank
The PDX Diaper Bank is currently the only NBDN-associated diaper bank in Portland, Oregon. Since its foundation in 2012, it successfully distributed more than 4,350,000 diapers.
Here’s some key information about PDX Diaper Bank:
Area Serviced
PDX Diaper Bank provides diapers and related supplies to struggling families with young kids, individuals with disabilities, and older adults residing in the Portland metro area.
Supporters
The following are among the biggest PDX Diaper Bank supporters:
- SnowCap Community Charities
- In Kind NGO
- Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation
- Nikon
- Trillium Community Health Plan
- Zera Foundation
- The Autzen Foundation
- Custom Comet
- Kiwanis NGO
Contact Information
You can get in touch with PDX Diaper Bank via their email address: info@pdxdiaperbank.org.
The physical mailing address is: P.O. Box 22613, Portland, OR 97269.
If you’d like to donate, you can head to your nearest drop-off location and leave your contribution there. If your donation is particularly generous, PDX Diaper Bank requests that you bring or ship it to SnowCap Community Charities at 17788 SE Pine St, Portland, OR 97233
You can also follow PDX Diaper Bank on the organization’s Instagram, X, or Facebook pages to get the latest updates.
How To Get Free Diapers From PDX Diaper Bank
If you’re interested in obtaining adult diapers through a diaper bank in Portland, PDX Diaper Bank is your most reliable resource.
However, keep in mind that PDX Diaper Bank doesn’t directly distribute diapers and incontinence supplies to families or individuals.
Instead, PDX Diaper Bank provides partner agencies and social service organizations with the resources, which they then distribute to people on their database in need of diapers. This flow ensures that the diapers go to those who truly need them.
As such, struggling families and individuals in Portland shouldn’t reach out to PDX to request diapers, but rather contact one of the partner organizations or agencies and enlist in their social programs.
Partner organizations and agencies include:
- Portland Public Schools – Teen Parent Services
- Path Home (formerly known as Portland Homeless Family Solutions)
- Family Relief Nursery – Volunteers of America
- Rose Haven
- NW Housing Alternatives
- Clackamas Service Center
- The Beaverton Police Department
- JOIN
- Clackamas County Children’s Commission
- Catholic Charities
- Job Corps PIVOT and Job Corps DESI
- NARA (Native American Rehabilitation Association) Northwest
- Dollar for Portland
- Helensview Middle and High School – Multnomah Education Service District
- SEI (Self Enhancement, Inc.)
- Raphael House of Portland
- The Black Parent Initiative
- SnowCap Community Charities
- IRCO (The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization)
- Salem Cloth Project
- Hacienda CDC
- AFHHO (African Family Holistic Health Organization)
- The Rosewood Initiative
- p:ear
- Mid County Health Center
- Impact NW – Congregate Housing Services
Can I Make a Walk-In Request?
If you’re registered with any of the partner organizations listed above, you can contact them for more information.
If you’re not a client of these agencies, you can contact the ones that accept walk-in diaper requests so you can go ahead and pick them up.
However, make sure to call in advance to check the stock and size availability.
Partner organizations that accept walk-in requests include:
- Clackamas Service Center
- JOIN
- NARA Northwest
- SnowCap Community Charities
- Mother & Child Education Center
Bottom Line
Diaper banks are a valuable resource for low-income families with seniors and disabled adults in need of diapers and incontinence supplies. If you live in the Portland, Oregon area, we recommend reaching out to PDX Diaper Bank and its partner agencies.
Frequently Asked Questions:
No, Medicare’s coverage doesn’t include adult diapers/incontinence supplies.
Diaper banks in Portland provide a range of products including disposable and cloth diapers for babies, children, and adults, as well as other incontinence supplies like pads, briefs, and cleansing wipes.
To qualify for assistance, individuals or families typically need to be referred by one of the partner social service organizations. Contact these agencies directly to enroll in their programs and get access to diaper bank resources.
Yes, many diaper banks accept opened packages of diapers as long as the diapers themselves are clean and unused. This helps ensure that all donations go to good use, supporting those in need while minimizing waste.
While donations are welcome throughout the year, demand can increase during certain times, such as the holiday season and back-to-school periods. However, it’s best to contact the diaper bank directly to find out when they are most in need of donations.