First Quality® and Cradles to Crayons® partner to fight diaper need
September 18-24 is National Diaper Need Awareness Week
When Pam Evans arrives at Cradles to Crayons’ Giving Factory® in Philadelphia, volunteers spring into action, loading her car with dozens of boxes of Cuties® diapers in various sizes.
“I actually have a few people who will be waiting on me when I get back because they've been calling for[diapers],” said Evans, who works at Jacquelyn Y. Kelley Charter School in West Philadelphia. “It really just helps alleviate the stress of people having to worry about how they're going to diaper their kids.”
According to the National Diaper Bank Network, one in two U.S. families struggles to provide enough diapers to keep their child clean, dry, and healthy. Cradles to Crayons is on a mission to #EndClothingInsecurity across the country, and that includes ensuring that babies and toddlers have the diapers they need to thrive.
Since 2021, First Quality® – the maker of Cuties diapers – has partnered with Cradles to Crayons in the fight to end diaper need and Clothing Insecurity. A portion of all Cuties diapers sales supports the nonprofit organization; with more than $1 million donated so far.
“Diapers are the most basic piece of clothing for a baby and toddler, and they go through a lot of them every day,” said Lynn Margherio, founder and CEO of Cradles to Crayons. “Diapers are also an entry point for us to further connect families with other essential items they need, such as clothing, shoes, school supplies, and support services.”
National Diaper Need Awareness Week
The National Diaper Bank Network, of which Cradles to Crayons is a member, launched National Diaper Need Awareness Week in 2012 to spur dialogue and action to address diaper need. This year it takes place September 18-24, but diaper need persists through the year.
“One thing that people may not realize is that without diapers, kids can’t go to childcare. So that means the adult caregivers are missing work or they're missing school,” said Margherio. “So not only is having diapers a health and safety issue for the child, but it’s also an economic issue for parents and for our society as a whole.”
Together, First Quality and Cradles to Crayons have distributed more than 5 million diapers, providing critical support to more than 100,000 families in a single year. First Quality team members also volunteer at Cradles to Crayons’ Giving Factory, which relies on volunteers to sort, package, and distribute high-quality donated goods.
“Our partnership with Cradles to Crayons is built on the shared belief that quality equals dignity, and everyone deserves access to high-quality, everyday essentials,” said Sima Delafraz, chief commercial officer of First Quality. “Every time we volunteer at Cradles to Crayons, we see firsthand the incredible impact they are having on the fight to end diaper need and Clothing Insecurity in our communities.”
Join the fight to #enddiaperneed
Want to help fight Clothing Insecurity and diaper need in the U.S.? Cradles to Crayons operates Giving Factories in Philadelphia, Boston, and Chicago, where volunteers and clothing donations are always needed. Through its online clothing donation platform, Giving Factory Direct, Cradles to Crayons also engages supporters throughout the U.S. and delivers clothing directly to children in New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area. And every purchase of Cuties diapers supports Cradles to Crayons nationally.
About First Quality
The First Quality family of companies is a closely held, diversified group of companies manufacturing, selling and distributing branded and private label absorbent hygiene, paper and packaging products into the healthcare, retail and commercial channels. First Quality is dedicated to meeting the demands of the market by providing innovative and high-quality products manufactured utilizing state-of-the-art technology. For more information, please visit www.firstquality.com
First Quality is a registered trademark of First Quality Enterprises, LLC.
About Cuties
Cuties® is First Quality’s own brand of baby care products, created for a new generation of parents with the highest standards of quality, efficiency and value. Thoughtfully designed and responsibly made, Cuties products are designed to be super-soft, super-absorbent and super-safe for babies’ sensitive skin. Learn more by visiting www.cuties.com
Cuties is a registered trademark of First Quality Baby Products, LLC
About Cradles to Crayons®
Cradles to Crayons® (C2C®) believes that all children deserve the essentials they need to feel safe, warm, ready to learn, and valued. Founded in 2002, Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive—at home, at school, and at play—for free. Cradles to Crayons collects and distributes new and high-quality used children’s goods by engaging and connecting communities. C2C sets a gold standard of individual, family, and corporate volunteer engagement, and through its “Giving Factories®” provides unique, hands-on opportunities to directly help local families. Headquartered in Boston, MA, C2C opened in Philadelphia in 2007, Chicago in 2016, and New York City via an innovative online platform, Giving Factory Direct (GFD), in 2020. For more information, visit www.cradlestocrayons.org
Media Contacts:
First Quality: media@firstquality.com
Cradles to Crayons: Kirsten Sims, ksims@cradlestocrayons.org