The Nappy Collective is helping parents in desperate need as cost of living pressures hit hard.
The community-based charity collects donations of new and leftover nappies – ones that little ones have grown out of or no longer need – and pass them onto community partners who support families in need.
It started with a group of mums who found a handful of nappies their toddlers no longer fit.
After considering what to do with only six nappies – Pass them onto a friend? Keep them for the next child? Throw them out? – they began to wonder if other parents were in a similar predicament.
“What if we were able to collect all these leftover nappies and distribute them to families in crisis or in need?” the group said.
“Collectively these handfuls of nappies could make a big difference.”
The group launched its first collection drive via Facebook in 2013 and received 1500 nappies within two weeks.
It has since expanded to more than 650 collection points across Australia and distributed more than 6.8 million nappies.
Minister for Children Lizzie Blandthorn and Albert Park MP Nina Taylor met with The Nappy Collective in May to hear about its work to build new community partnerships and expand donation points.
“Given the current cost of living pressures impacting many Victorian households, the work of The Nappy Collective is even more important with the charity establishing new community partnerships and nappy donation points across Victoria,” Ms Blandthorn said.
“Being a new parent is one of the most incredible, yet challenging experiences – and for Victorians experiencing vulnerability or in crisis, this work provides significant relief when they need it most.”
The Nappy Collective received $110,000 from the State Government in September last year, plus $100,000 in January this year to launch two new programs.
The School Collective and Corporate Collective will allow participants to contribute financially to The Nappy Collective while gaining education on nappy stress and wider social disadvantage through guest speaker presentations.
Research from The Nappy Collective shows that one in 10 Australian families don’t have enough nappies due to reasons outside their control, such as homelessness, escaping domestic violence, major weather events, or other emergencies.
