Bergen County Will Deliver 1 Million Diapers To Local Nonprofits

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — The Bergen County Food Security Task Force has been distributing meals to food pantries during the coronavirus pandemic, but they recently pivoted to a new item: diapers.

On Thursday, the task force, in partnership with The Community FoodBank of New Jersey, hosted their first diaper distribution, which saw 180,000 baby diapers and adult briefs collected by 38 local nonprofit organizations, county officials said.

The 180,000 diapers delivered this week are just a fraction of the 1 million that the county hopes to deliver to local organizations over the next three months.

"While we have made progress in our fight against the pandemic, food insecurity and financial hardship continue to be an ongoing struggle for residents across Bergen County," said Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco.

Each organization was given one month's supply of diapers Thursday, and will receive direct deliveries for an additional three months, according to county officials.

The purchase of these diapers was made possible by CARES Act funding that the county received, and initially budgeted for fighting pandemic-induced food insecurity. But county officials saw another need, and had the funds to make an impact.

"Diapers are an essential product that can be a significant strain on a struggling family’s expenses, especially as they are not covered by SNAP benefits," said Commissioner Vice Chair Tracy Silna Zur. "The Food Security Task Force has stepped up to provide 1.4 million diapers across Bergen County over the next several months to alleviate this burden so families can allocate their funds to purchasing fresh foods."

A 2017 study found that one in three families were "in diaper need, or struggle to provide enough diapers to keep a baby or toddler clean, dry and healthy."

"The latest initiative by the Task Force has identified another critical need of our Bergen County families," said Commissioner Chair Steven Tanelli. "Diapers are an expensive burden not covered by federal aid during a time that many families are feeling a financial strain because of the pandemic."

With the pandemic highlighting food insecurity as an issue across the country, and in New Jersey, Community FoodBank of New Jersey President and CEO Carlos Rodriguez said the diaper drive is an example of the ways to address hunger "holistically."

The idea is if county officials can provide access to costly necessities other than food, families will have an easier time budgeting for pantry staples.

"As COVID-19 has exacerbated need for so many families across New Jersey, we're proud to partner with the Bergen County Food Security Task Force to help lighten their burden with essential hygiene products," said Rodriguez.

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