Our Mission
To serve and support the keiki of Hawaiʻi by providing diapers, wipes, and other basic essentials to organizations that assist low-income families with young children.
Our Values
We believe no child should suffer from diaper need. All children deserve access to clean, dry diapers. Access to diapers improves the physical, mental, and economic well-being of babies, families, and communities.
Our History
Hawaiʻi Diaper Bank (originally Big Island Diaper Drive) was founded in 2016 when founder and president Jessica Histo, a registered nurse, was looking to donate diapers that were outgrown by her son and found no Big Island organization focused on accepting diaper donations and distributing them to families in need. Through further research, Jessica became aware of the pervasive problem of diaper need on the Big Island and committed herself to filling that need.
Hawaiʻi Diaper Bank (HDB) held its first diaper drive in 2016 during Diaper Need Awareness Week (DNAW) (when diaper banks from across the country work with local and state governments to raise awareness about diaper need and plan events to rally sustainable support for diaper bank programs). Over the course of that week, HDB collected and distributed more than 4,000 diapers (as well as wipes) to low-income families with young children. Thanks to the generous support of Big Island residents, donations continued to roll in following the 2016 diaper drive, and in 2017, HDB held its second diaper drive during DNAW, collecting and distributing more than 5,000 diapers (as well as wipes)!
In 2018, HDB incorporated as a nonprofit and welcomed its inaugural Board of Directors. At this time, HDB is a community project under the fiscal sponsorship of Hawai’i Children’s Action Network. HDB is passionate about eliminating poverty and improving the health and well-being of Hawai’i’s keiki. Currently, HDB is 100% volunteer run, but we are in a period of rapid growth and look forward to broadening our impact in the community.
