why do we focus on diapers?

Diapers are a basic health necessity for babies but are not provided by government assistance programs. Keeping a child in a clean diapers should not depend on how much money you have.

Families with financial struggles and children living in poverty continue to be a growing problem in Michigan and while there are wonderful organizations that feed, clothe, heal and house children, an adequate supply of disposable diapers is an ongoing critical need that is often unrecognized and unmet.

Diaper banks exist throughout the country and successfully serve their local communities but Nestlings is the first diaper bank in West Michigan. Nestlings is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing awareness of the ongoing need for diapers and designed to be a centralized source for collecting, storing, and distributing diapers.

Why not cloth?

There are a number of factors which prevent cloth diapers from being a realistic solution for low-income families.

Families who cannot afford diapers do not have access to a private washing machine, or the resources to purchase the detergent and supplies to hygienically wash the diapers.  Laundromats prohibit washing soiled diapers for health and sanitation reasons. Access to reliable transportation or the financial means to take public transportation is also limited. Most importantly, the daycare centers on which low-income families rely to help move out of poverty through education or work, do not accept cloth diapers. Our best solution to help the most children is disposable diapers.