HAPPYBOTTOMS

HAPPYBOTTOMS IS KANSAS CITY'S DIAPER BANK. WE ARE THE ONLY ORGANIZATION FOCUSED SOLELY ON OBTAINING AND DISTRIBUTING DIAPERS TO HELP FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN TO BRIDGE THE DIAPER NEED GAP (THE NUMBER OF DIAPERS A FAMILY IS SHORT EACH MONTH). IN 2025, 19,346 CHILDREN WERE SERVED (UNDUPLICATED COUNT) AND 6,658,135 DIAPERS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO HAPPYBOTTOMS AGENCY, HOSPITAL AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS. OF THESE 5,955,925 WERE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH HAPPYBOTTOMS 83 PARTNER AGENCIES, AS WELL AS 660 POTTY TRAINING KITS. 308,600 DIAPERS WERE DISTRIBUTED BY 6 HOSPITAL SITES. IN ADDITION, 87,535 DIAPERS WERE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH HAPPYBOTTOMS COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVES, HAPPY PACKS AND HUB.HAPPYBOTTOMS COMMUNITY DIAPER PROGRAM IS COMPRISED OF BUNDLES OF JOY: PROVIDES MOTHERS AND THEIR NEWBORNS AN INITIAL SUPPLY OF 75 DIAPERS AND INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO CONTINUE RECEIVING DIAPERS EACH MONTH; MONTHLY DIAPER PROGRAM: CHILDREN RECEIVE 75 DIAPERS OR 50 PULL-UPS, AND POTTY TRAINING EDUCATION: FAMILIES RECEIVE A POTTY TRAINING KIT (POTTY SEAT, STEPSTOOL, PARENT GUIDE TO POTTY TRAINING, BOARD BOOK AND STICKERS) TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THIS IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE AND ELIMINATE DIAPER EXPENSE.DIAPER NEED IS A SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH. NEARLY 1 IN 2 FAMILIES (47%) WITH YOUNG CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH DIAPERS TO KEEP THEIR CHILD CLEAN, DRY AND HEALTHY. (THE NATIONAL DIAPER BANK NETWORK DIAPER CHECK STUDY 2023) DIAPERS ARE NOT COVERED BY GOVERNMENT SAFETY NET PROGRAMS LIKE WIC, SNAP OR MEDICAID. SINCE THE PANDEMIC, THE PRICE OF DIAPERS HAS INCREASED 48%. IN MISSOURI, FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN EXPERIENCING DIAPER NEED REPORT MISSING AN AVERAGE OF 5 WORKDAYS PER MONTH BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE THE DIAPERS REQUIRED FOR THEIR CHILD TO ATTEND DAYCARE. WHEN PARENTS ARE UNABLE TO WORK AND DO NOT GET PAID, THEY HAVE LESS INCOME TO PURCHASE DIAPERS. PARENTS WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE COST OF DIAPERS LEAVE THEM ON THEIR CHILDREN FOR LONGER THAN INTENDED, CAUSING INFECTIONS OR ACUTE RASHES WHICH LEAD TO MORE FREQUENT DOCTOR VISITS AND MEDICAL COSTS.IN GENERAL, ANY CHILD AGE BIRTH THROUGH AGE 4, RESIDING IN OUR SERVICE AREA WHO RECEIVE SNAP, WIC, TANF OR MEDICAID AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY FOR OUR PROGRAMS. WE ALSO SERVE FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING SUDDEN FINANCIAL SETBACKS LIKE UNEMPLOYMENT, EVICTION OR OTHER HARDSHIPS.DIAPERS ARE THE NUMBER 1 REQUESTED ITEM AT SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. BY PROVIDING AGENCIES WITH THE RIGHT SIZE DIAPERS TO DISTRIBUTE TO FAMILIES, HAPPYBOTTOMS IS FREEING UP VALUABLE STAFF TIME AND RESOURCES TO FOCUS ON OTHER CRITICAL AGENCY NEEDS. IN PARTNERING WITH SOCIAL SERVICE AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, HAPPYBOTTOMS IS PROACTIVELY GIVING FAMILIES ACCESS TO OTHER ESSENTIAL RESOURCES (CHILDCARE, HOUSING ASSISTANCE, JOB TRAINING OR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTHCARE) OR HELPING PREVENT THEM FROM FALLING BEHIND,AT HAPPYBOTTOMS, WE BELIEVE EVERY CHILD DESERVES THE DIGNITY OF A CLEAN DIAPER. ACCESS TO THIS BASIC NEED MEANS FEWER HEALTH CONCERNS FOR BABIES, FEWER MISSED DAYS OF WORK FOR PARENTS, LESS OF A FINANCIAL BURDEN, AND GREATER STABILITY FOR FAMILIES.